Will protect convicts too from punitive demolitions: Supreme Court
The HinduThe Supreme Court on Tuesday promised to protect even convicted criminals from State- A Bench of Justices B.R. Supreme Court hearing on bulldozer action updates But at the same time, the apex court, which has proposed to frame pan-India guidelines to protect private property from illegal and targeted State demolitions, said it would not condone or shield public encroachments, irrespective of the faith of the violators. The law officer expressed an apprehension that the top court’s intervention on the basis of a few illegal demolitions may work to encourage encroachments and paralyse “genuine” demolition of unauthorised structures across the country. Public interest “Any religious structure in the middle of a public road, be it a dargah or some temple, it has to go… For us, public safety and public interest are paramount,” Justice Gavai said, clarifying that the court’s ambit was confined to illegal State demolitions. Justice Viswanathan suggested videographing demolitions, so the footage could be used in court to prove the State action was either required or disproportionate.