The Supreme Court on Thursday said that North Delhi Municipal Corporation’s act of continued demolition in Jahangirpuri despite the stay order will be reviewed seriously. The court further ordered the corporation to stop all the demolition activities until further notice. The case is set to be heard in after two weeks.
“Status quo to be maintained. Will take a serious view of the demolition, which was carried out despite SC’s orders and even after NDMC Mayor was informed. We will take that up later,” the SC said.
Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, representing the petitioners, said the matter was not limited to just Jahangirpuri and damaged the social fabric of the country. He said that this act raised a bigger question of national importance and democracy. “If we allow this, there will be no rule of law or democracy left. How can a BJP leader write a letter (to NDMC Mayor) that you demolish and NDMC demolishes? There is a provision for appeals too. There are 731 unauthorised colonies in Delhi with 50 lakh people. If you want to act against unauthorised constructions, go to Sainik Farms, Golf Links, where I stay, where every second home is an encroachment. You don’t want to touch them, but you target poor people?” he said.
Jahangirpuri area of New Delhi witnessed an onslaught of a sudden encroachment demolition drive when bulldozers of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation reached the locality. This happened following the communal clashes in the area during the Hanuman Jayanti procession
Niaz Ahmed Farooqui, secretary of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind had pleaded with the home ministry to intervene and stop the demolition drive. He said the administration is targeting only one community.
