Supreme Court on Bulldozer Action: Supreme Court has become stern against the ‘Bulldozer Justice,’ a technique that states increasingly have been using to deal with people. It has ordered an immediate end to the promotion and execution of this very strategy, the Supreme Court said today in its ruling on a petition by Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind against these demolitions that such acts are illegal.
Temporary Freeze on Bulldozer Actions
It sought to restrain bulldozer demolitions without any prior order of the court till October 1, the date of the next hearing. This judgment means that bulldozer demolitions are now on an informal freeze-a practice that has become popular in a few states, most notably Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Assam.
The bulldozer approach was first initiated by the CM Yogi Adityanath regime in Uttar Pradesh. There, bulldozers bulldozed out properties that were illegal or involved in criminal activities. As a powerful tool for swift justice, this doctrine gained pace among other states. With the growing usage of this method, however, it was found that legal procedures were being infringed upon. It is pertinent to mention that the central government summoned the chief secretaries of all states and provided guidelines on how to go about such exercises. This was done due to a petition filed by Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind.
Exemptions for Public Roads and Footpaths
This decision by the Supreme Court has made it clear that if unauthorized construction has taken place on public roads and footpaths, bulldozers can continue their demolition work; however, they will need permission from the judiciary for actions on private property and elsewhere. It is so because this would only avoid the chances of bullydom on whim or caprice.