Supreme Court Raps UP Govt Over Demolitions In Prayagraj, Orders Rs 10L Compensation
Supreme Court Raps UP Govt Over Demolitions In Prayagraj, Orders Rs 10L Compensation In Each Case
M.U.H
01/04/202527
The Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up the Uttar Pradesh government and the Prayagraj Development Authority for the demolition of the houses of a lawyer, a professor and three others in Prayagraj in 2021, terming it “illegal" and “insensitive". The court also asked them to pay a fixed compensation of Rs 10 lakhs in each of such cases within six weeks.
The bench, comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, remarked that such cases shock the conscience, adding that the residential premises of the appellants have been high-handedly demolished.
“We will record this whole thing as illegal and we will say that as far as rights in the land are concerned, we are not offering any comment," Justice Oka said, adding, “And fix compensation of 10 lakhs in each case. That is the only way to do this. So that this authority will always remember to follow due process."
“These cases shock our conscience. The residential premises of the appellants have been high-handedly demolished," he said.
“The authorities, and especially the development authority, must remember that the right to shelter is also an integral part of Article 21 of the Constitution of India," the order stated.
“Carrying out demolition in such a manner shows insensitivity on the part of the statutory development authority," it added.
Earlier, the top court had slammed the Uttar Pradesh government over the demolition action in Prayagraj without following the due legal procedure and said it sent a “shocking and wrong signal".
The petitioners’ counsel had said the state government wrongly demolished the houses thinking the land belonged to gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed, who was killed in 2023 in a police encounter.
The top court was hearing a plea by advocate Zulfiqar Haider, Professor Ali Ahmed and others whose houses were demolished.
The Allahabad High Court had rejected their plea challenging the demolition.
The petitioners had reportedly been served a notice on March 6, 2021, with respect to certain constructions at Lukerganj in Prayagraj district.
