Following the Supreme Court’s ruling on using bulldozers for demolitions, BJP MLA Sidharth Nath Singh welcomed the decision on Thursday, emphasizing that the Uttar Pradesh government had already been adhering to the defined legal procedure. The verdict mandates adherence to statutory guidelines before any demolition action is taken.
Singh stated that if someone engages in illegal construction, the government retains the right to demolish it, provided the proper legal procedure is followed.
“The Supreme Court stated that illegal constructions cannot be demolished arbitrarily. It outlined a procedure, and the UP government was already following it. If someone grabs government land and builds illegally, the bulldozer will act within the law,” Singh told ANI.
The Supreme Court, in its ruling on Wednesday, directed that no demolition should occur without issuing a prior 15-day show-cause notice to the property owner and following statutory procedures. The court also asserted that the executive branch cannot assume the role of a judge and unilaterally decide on the guilt of an accused person by demolishing their property.
“The executive cannot become a judge and decide that a person accused is guilty, and therefore, punish them by demolishing their residential or commercial properties,” stated the judgment delivered by Justices BR Gavai and KV Vishwanathan.
Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav criticized the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government following the Supreme Court’s decision. He remarked that the court’s ruling would effectively curb the BJP’s aggressive use of bulldozers in demolitions, which has become a symbol of the government’s approach.
“The Supreme Court has commented against the bulldozer, which has become the symbol of this BJP government. I thank the Supreme Court for this decision against the government,” Yadav said at a rally.
The ruling has significant implications for the Yogi Adityanath government’s use of bulldozers in Uttar Pradesh, particularly in cases of alleged illegal constructions. The directive from the Supreme Court to follow due process has sparked mixed reactions, with BJP leaders defending their stance and opposition parties, like the Samajwadi Party, seizing the opportunity to criticize the state’s bulldozer policy.
This decision comes as part of broader judicial scrutiny over the executive’s use of force in demolitions, especially in politically charged contexts. The Supreme Court’s emphasis on legal procedures seeks to balance the government’s authority with individual property rights.
