SC Criticises UP Govt For Demolishing Properties Of Atiq Ahmed’s Aides In Prayagraj

Supreme Court expressed displeasure with the Uttar Pradesh government for demolishing houses in Prayagraj without following due process of law and declared that the action gives a shocking and wrong message.

Justice Abhay Oka and Justice N Kotishwar Singh objected to the “high-handed” case of demolition and ordered that the demolished properties would need to be rebuilt. The apex court made the comments in relation to the demolition of the houses of a lawyer, a professor, and three others in Prayagraj, stating that such actions send a “shocking and wrong signal.”

Justice Oka said prima facie, this action sends shocking and wrong signal and this is something that needs to be corrected. You are taking such drastic action of demolishing homes. We know how to deal with such hyper technical arguments.

After all, there is something like Article 21 and the right to shelter,” the bench pronounced. Justice Oka said that the court will now order the state to reconstruct the demolished structures. “Now we will order reconstruction at your cost, that is the only way to do this”.

Attorney General R Venkataramani backed the state government’s decision and pointed out that the petitioners were given an appropriate amount of time to reply to the notice of demolition. The case need to be forwarded to the high court for review.

The state government wrongfully destroyed the residences, according to the attorney of the petitioners, on the grounds that the property belonged to deceased gangster Atiq Ahmed, who was assassinated in 2023.