Will the strong warning given by the Supreme Court to the Uttar Pradesh government, which did not listen to previous warnings against bullying citizens using power, considering it is an administration that likes the ways of demolition and violence? The Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, JP Pardiwala, and Manoj Mishra ruled that the Adityanath government's action of demolishing the houses overnight where people live for road development is illegal. It has also been ordered to pay compensation of Rs 25 lakh each to all the displaced persons. This verdict is based on a case taken suo motu by the court on the complaint of Manoj Thibrewal Akash against the demolition of his house in the Maharajganj district in 2019. The Supreme Court has reminded the UP government that it is not acceptable to demolish houses with bulldozers at midnight and make people homeless without prior notice. It is not the way for a democratic government to carry out evictions after announcing the same using loudspeakers. The three-judge bench also pointed out that it is the method of muscle power. "You say that the complainant encroached 3.7 square meters. But you do not show any documents to prove that. But how do you demolish people's houses like this? It is illegal to rush and demolish any house without notice." The court reminded the UP government in harsh language.
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It is common practice for the government nowadays to take the law into its own hands and challenge the justice system in the country. It is the primary responsibility of the government to ensure that the citizens are free from hunger and poverty and to provide security from fear. However, the misery of Indian citizens is that both these have become a misfortune handed out by the government. There is a judicial system in the country to evaluate the wrongdoings and law violations to impose appropriate punishment and oversee its enforcement. Although the 2019 case has its own self-admitted flaws, including the years it took to reach a verdict, disrespecting the judiciary could lead to chaos in the country. It is not just an idea. This is a terrifying phenomenon that has been seen in India in recent times. Some of the incidents mirroring the pattern of the underworld in some states of India with the connivance of the government are opponents shooting the accused and criminals in police custody; organizing encounters to kill criminals instead of bringing them to justice; making the accused and criminals vulnerable to assault and murder in the courtrooms; as mentioned in the case in question, to fulfill the demand of the government and in the name of development, demolish the houses and shops of the citizens; and demolish the assets of those who are accused of taking part in stone pelting and conflict without waiting for any legal proceedings. These atrocities of the state governments are not being condemned but leaders are hailed for their bulldozer politics. At election rallies, supporters chant in support of this act by bringing bulldozers. Then, as if there is no time to wait for the legal proceedings approved by the legal systems, they have no fear of anyone in their eagerness to carry out the interests of the state in any way.
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Manoj Akash, the victim of this incident, committed the crime of obstructing the development. How much land did he occupy? According to the National Human Rights Commission report, the government says it is only 3.70 square meters! The commission demanded that a case should be filed against those responsible for the act of demolishing a whole house on account of this violation of the law in that tiny place was an offence, and that departmental action should be taken against the officials concerned. However, there was no action on the part of the authorities in this regard either. The court asked to pay 25 lakhs as immediate compensation to the victim and informed that the complainant could take legal action for more compensation. The court verdict is against the government's aggression in the name of development. Even worse is the violence with the method of extermination, which destroys everything with bulldozers and erases the name and character of a group based on ethnic prejudices. Houses and businesses of those who took part in the protests against CAA and the accused in ethnic conflicts were bulldozed and thousands of people became homeless and unemployed. In a few cases, there were favourable verdicts. But the ongoing campaign proves that none of that has been enough to deter governments eager to copy underworld models with racial prejudice. The way to show off the muscle power of a political party is not by clutching on to the technical intricacies of official systems and procedures to step on the underprivileged. Humanity should be the guideline for authorities and their parties. That is what the Supreme Court has now said aloud.
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