From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday stepped in for the second time to put brakes on the bulldozers used for demolitions as part of a sudden anti-encroachment drive in the riot-torn Jahangirpuri area of Delhi that witnessed violence between two communities only four days ago.
A Bench, headed by Chief Justice of India N V Ramana,A score of shops belonging to the Muslims were demolished before the police enforced the Court’s status quo order. in the forenoon at 10.45 AM, directed the secretary general of the Apex Court to convey its stay order on demolitions to the North Delhi Mayor as well as Delhi Police Commissioner immediately, but the officials engaged in the demolition continued pulling down the houses and shops with the bulldozers, claiming they have not been conveyed the court orders.
The Court order came as it agreed to hear a petition challenging the action of the civil bodies allegedly aimed against the accused of the communal offences. Later, it took note of the submissions by senior advocate Dushyant Dave that the demolition was continuing despite its order since the authporities claimed the same had not been communicated to them. “It will be too late otherwise,” he pleaded.
“Ok. Communicate it through secretary-general or registrar general (of the apex court) immediately,” the CJI said and fixed further hearing in the matter on Thursday.
People also rushed to Delhi High Court on Wednesday, but it refused to hear since the top court has already stepped in. Police confirmed the bulldozers have stopped but only after 90 minutes of the demolition drive.
Opposition leaders, who rushed to the scene of the demolitions, said the BJP-led municipal corporation has resorted to the same tactic that was adopted in Khargone town of Madhya Pradesh to destroy buildings of those allegedly involved in violence. This is a show of open defiance of the law and an insult of the judiciary which alone has to act against the culprits.
“The law and the constitution have been bulldozed by illegal demolitions. At least the Supreme Court & its order should not be bulldozed: CPIM leader Brinda Karat in Jahangirpur,” said CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat who was on the spot.
