Status Quo To Continue: Supreme Court Stays Jahangirpuri Demolition Drive For Two Weeks
A Supreme Court bench of Justices LN Rao and BR Gavai ordered a halt of all demolition activities in North West Delhi's Jahangirpuri area while saying that it would ¡°take a serious view of all demolitions that took place after the Supreme Court decision was communicated to the mayor¡±.
A Supreme Court bench of Justices LN Rao and BR Gavai ordered a halt of all demolition activities in North West Delhi's Jangirpuri area while saying that it would ¡°take a serious view of all demolitions that took place after the Supreme Court decision was communicated to the mayor¡±.
The bench also issued notice to the NDMC in the petition filed by the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and sought its reply within two weeks.
The Supreme Court started hearing the case related to the demolition drive in Jahangirpuri at 11 am today.
Kapil Sibal, appearing for Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, said, "Demolitions are happening across India. Muslims were targeted, especially during Ram Navami days these things were happening. Then houses of only one community were demolished."
Delhi | Visuals from Jahangirpuri where a demolition drive that was being carried out by North Delhi Municipal Corporation was stayed by the Supreme Court yesterday
¡ª ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2022
The area witnessed violence on April 16 during a religious procession pic.twitter.com/5E4pIqWfxF
To which the apex court asked if no property belonging to Hindus was demolished yesterday.
"Remarks have been made by a Minister that if Muslims carry out such attacks then they should not expect justice. The homes of people who were not even in the area on the day of the incident were demolished," said Sibal.
"If demolition allowed, there will be no rule of law left"
Petitioner Dushyant Dave argued before the Supreme Court that the issue isn't confined to Jahangirpuri.
"It's on the social fibre of this country. If this is allowed there will be no rule of law left. How is this President of BJP writes and asks to start demolition and they start? A 5-15 days notice is a must," he said.
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Dave added that if one wants to act against unauthorised construction, "you go to Sainik Farms."
Referring to Section 343 of the IPC, Dave asked who should be held accountable for destroying homes. "All homes in Jahangirpuri are more than 30 years old and shops are 50 years old. we are in a democracy and how can this be allowed in this country," he added.
SC applies brakes to demolition
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court ordered to maintain status quo in Jahangirpuri's anti-encroachment drive.
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An excavator was in the process of tearing down the gates of the mosque and several nearby shops when, amid the palpable tension in the area, lawyer Dushyant Dave complained to the Supreme Court that its directives in the matter were being flouted.
Chief Justice NV Ramana, in turn, lost no time in directing that the court order staying the anti-encroachment drive "must be communicated immediately to officials" -- the North Delhi Mayor as well as the Delhi Police Commissioner.
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