“Demolitions must be in compliance with the law, they cannot be retaliatory,” the Supreme Court stated in a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government today over the demolition of houses of those accused in recent violence in the state, reported NDTV.
The Supreme Court made the remarks while hearing a petition filed by the Muslim organisation Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind in response to the state administration’s recent demolitions of buildings deemed illegal, including the residence of a prominent Muslim activist Afreen Fatima.
The Supreme court, however, did not order UP to stop the demolitions. “We can’t stay demolitions. We can say go in accordance with law,” said the court, as per the report.
The district development administration in Prayagraj demolished Fatima’s home on Sunday, claiming the structure was illegally constructed and that the family had failed to attend for hearings following summons given in May.
His father was also arrested after the protests in the area against the controversial remarks over Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) by a now-suspended BJP spokesperson.
Javed’s lawyers, on the other hand, claim that the family received a copy of the notification late Saturday, the night before the demolition and that the house belonged to his wife, not him.
