Supreme Court criticizes Prayagraj home demolitions' process

The Supreme Court has criticized the Uttar Pradesh government for the sudden demolition of homes in Prayagraj, describing the actions as "high handed" and "shocking." The court highlighted the lack of proper procedures, stating that residents were not given enough notice or a chance to appeal before their homes were destroyed. On Monday, the bench, made up of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, expressed disbelief at how quickly the demolitions occurred—within 24 hours of sending out notices. The court asserted that such processes cannot be tolerated, as allowing one case to go unchecked could lead to further abuses. The Supreme Court stated it would permit the rebuilding of the demolished homes. However, this is conditional on the petitioners filing appeals within a specific timeframe and agreeing not to claim ownership over the land or involve third parties. If the appeals do not succeed, the petitioners will need to demolish any rebuilt homes at their own expense. Attorney General R Venkataramani defended the government's actions, claiming they aim to rectify large-scale illegal land occupations. He emphasized the difficulties faced by the state government in managing unauthorized possession of land. Previously, the court had criticized the state for demolishing homes without following legal procedures. The demolitions occurred amid accusations that the properties belonged to gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed, who was killed in 2023. The case was brought forward by residents whose homes were destroyed, following a denial from the Allahabad High Court to challenge the demolitions. The residents were reportedly notified of the demolition on March 6, 2021, concerning land in Prayagraj.