Alleged involvement in criminal case no ground for demolition of property: SC

The court says it cannot be oblivious to such actions that may be seen as running a bulldozer over the laws of the land

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Alleged involvement in a crime is no ground to demolish properties, the Supreme Court said on Thursday and ordered a civic body in Gujarat to maintain status quo and not threaten to bulldoze the house of an accused in a criminal case.

Observing that such demolition threats are inconceivable in a country where the law is supreme, the court said it cannot be oblivious to such actions that may be seen as “running a bulldozer over the laws of the land”.

A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy, Sudhanshu Dhulia and S V N Bhatti said: “In a country where actions of the State are governed by the rule of law, the transgression by a family member cannot invite action against other members of the family or their legally-constructed residence. Alleged involvement in crime is no ground for the demolition of a property.”