Mon Mar 24 17:58:06 UTC 2025: ## Supreme Court Condemns Uttar Pradesh Demolitions in Prayagraj, Orders Reconstruction
**New Delhi** – The Supreme Court of India on Monday strongly criticized the Uttar Pradesh government for its swift demolition of homes in Prayagraj, calling the action “shocking” and a violation of due process. A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan expressed deep concern over the demolitions, which occurred within 24 hours of notice being served, leaving residents with no time to appeal.
The court deemed the government’s actions “high-handed” and warned against such practices, stating that tolerating this would set a dangerous precedent. However, the court allowed for the reconstruction of the demolished homes at the state government’s expense, contingent on the petitioners filing appeals within a specified timeframe and agreeing not to claim further ownership rights or create third-party interests in the land. Should their appeals be rejected, the petitioners will be responsible for demolishing the rebuilt structures.
Attorney General R Venkataramani defended the state’s actions, citing widespread illegal occupation and the difficulty in controlling unauthorized possessions. He assured the court that appropriate due process would be followed in future notice-servings.
The petitioners, including advocate Zulfiqar Haider and professor Ali Ahmed, argued that the demolitions were wrongly carried out under the assumption that the land belonged to slain gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed. Their plea to the Allahabad High Court was previously rejected. The Supreme Court’s intervention follows prior criticism of similar demolitions in the state. The matter has been adjourned to allow the petitioners to file the required undertakings.
First Piper 