Supreme Court Pauses Assam’s Demolition Action, Seeks Govt’s Response

Supreme Court Pauses Assam’s Demolition Action, Seeks Govt’s Response

Supreme Court Pauses Assam’s Demolition Action, Seeks Govt’s Response

Key Highlights:

1. Supreme Court issued notice to Assam over a contempt plea regarding demolitions.
2. The state must maintain the status quo and submit a reply within 21 days.
3. Petitioners claim demolitions violate fundamental rights under the Constitution.

The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Assam government in response to a contempt plea filed by 48 citizens, accusing the state of defying the court’s earlier order concerning the demolition of structures. The notice requires the Assam government to respond within 21 days.

A two-judge bench, consisting of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan, instructed the state to maintain the status quo, halting any planned demolition until the next hearing.

Although the petitioners argue that demolitions were carried out in violation of the Supreme Court’s directives, the bench noted that no demolitions had been conducted as of yet, stating, “There’s no demolition yet… We’ll issue a notice.”

The petitioners, who have been living on the disputed property for decades, claim that their homes were wrongfully marked for demolition by the state, allegedly under the pretext of encroachment on government land.

They assert that these demolitions were planned without proper hearings or due process, stripping them of their homes and livelihoods.

Their plea is centered on the argument that such actions violate fundamental rights protected under Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantee equality before the law, protection from discrimination, and the right to life and personal liberty.

The court’s notice directs the state to refrain from any further actions until a detailed examination of the case is conducted. The next hearing is expected after the Assam government submits its response to the contempt allegations.