The Uttar Pradesh government is making a mockery of the Constitution by bulldozing the homes of Muslim citizens, said three former Supreme Court judges. "Houses of protestors are being demolished without notice or any cause of action," observed the former judges.
The remarks by now-suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma's controversial remarks on the Prophet have triggered outrage and protests across India. And some of the protesters were soon subjected to government actions on the grounds of illegal construction.
The Uttar Pradesh police have also arrested over 330 people from eight districts following the June 10 protests. 13 FIRs have been registered against the protestors.
The Prayagraj Development Authority on Sunday demolished the home of Javed Ahmad alleging illegal construction. 12 prominent persons including three former judges urged the Supreme Court to interfere and stop the "violence and repression by state authorities against Muslim citizens".
In a letter to the top court, the authors including former judges B Sudarshan Reddy, V Gopala Gowda, and AK Ganguly called the UP government's actions "an unacceptable subversion of the rule of law". The letter written on June 14 is signed by three former High Court judges and six lawyers.
The former members of the judiciary accused the UP police and development authorities of acting in a coordinated manner. "It leads to the clear conclusion that demolitions are a form of collective extra-judicial punishment".
The letter also pointed out that the police were seen chasing and beating citizens belonging to the minority Muslim community. "The videos circulating on social media are shaking the conscience of the nation," reported NDTV.
It further said the mettle of the judiciary is tested in such critical times, and the court has emerged with distinction as the custodian of the rights of the people in the past.