SC stays Jahangirpuri demolition for two weeks, says 'will take serious view' of action post status quo order

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday extended the status quo until further orders on the issue of demolition of buildings in the violence-hit Jahangirpuri area of the national capital. A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and B R Gavai issued notice to the Centre and others on the plea filed by the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind that claimed that buildings of the Muslim riots accused are being razed.

The apex court also said that it will take a serious view of the demolition on Wednesday, which was carried out even after its orders though the NDMC Mayor was informed.

"Will take a serious view of all demolitions that took place after the Supreme Court decision was communicated to the mayor," said Supreme Court.

The North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) through solicitor general Tushar Mehta told the court that the drive against the removal of encroachments by Hindus and Muslims in Jahangirpuri was carried out to remove the obstruction of roads and footpaths. "It was the fifth day of the drive which started on January 19," he said.

When the bench asked whether footpath and public road encroachments by stalls required bulldozers, the solicitor general said that any building which faced demolition action had been put on prior notice and the drive was carried out without breach of any law.

Several concrete and temporary structures close to a mosque were brought down on Wednesday morning as part of an anti-encroachment drive by the BJP-ruled North Delhi Municipal Corporation. The Supreme Court had to intervene twice to stop the drive after it took cognizance of a petition filed by Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind against the demolition.

SC issued notices on the petitions by Jamiat seeking a stay on the use of bulldozers but clarified that the stay on demolition drive was specifically confined only to the Jahangirpuri area. SC asked the parties to file affidavits and posted the matter for further hearing after two weeks.