In a verdict published yesterday, the Supreme Court of India said that ‘Citizens’ voices cannot be throttled by a threat of destroying their properties’ while urging the government to follow ‘due process’. The apex court delivered its 6 November verdict in a matter related to the demolition of a house in the Maharajganj district of Uttar Pradesh in 2019

Responding to the recent verdict of the Supreme Court of India condemning “bulldozer justice”, Aakar Patel, chair of board at Amnesty International India, said:

“The judgement condemning unlawful demolitions as ‘unacceptable’ from the Supreme Court of India is a late but welcome move in upholding the rights of the people. This is a big win in ending the deeply unjust, widespread, unlawful and punitive demolitions, mostly targeting the minority Muslim community, by the Indian authorities which have often been peddled as ‘bulldozer justice’ by ruling party political leaders and media.

“Amnesty International welcomes the Supreme Court of India’s judgment and calls on the central and state governments in India to immediately halt the de facto policy of demolishing people’s homes as a form of extra-judicial punishment and ensure nobody is made homeless as a result of forced evictions. 

The judgement condemning unlawful demolitions as ‘unacceptable’ from the Supreme Court of India is a late but welcome move in upholding the rights of the people.

Aakar Patel, chair of board at Amnesty International India

“The authorities must also offer adequate compensation to not just the petitioner, as directed by the Supreme Court, but all those affected by punitive demolitions across the country and ensure those responsible for these violations are held to account. In blatant violation of the rights to non-discrimination, adequate housing and a fair trial, such punitive demolitions are destroying families— and must stop immediately.”

Background:

In a verdict published yesterday, the Supreme Court of India said that ‘Citizens’ voices cannot be throttled by a threat of destroying their properties’ while urging the government to follow ‘due process’. The apex court delivered its 6 November verdict in a matter related to the demolition of a house in the Maharajganj district of Uttar Pradesh in 2019.

Previously, Amnesty International had released two reports in February 2024 which documented the arbitrary and punitive demolitions in at least five states in India in a hate campaign against the minority community for protesting discriminatory laws and practices.