INDIAN LEGAL SYSTEM IS GOVERNED BY RULE OF LAW, NOT RULE OF BULLDOZER: CJI GAVAI

Chief Justice of India BR Gavai on Saturday underscored that the Supreme Court’s ruling against the demolition of accused persons’ homes reinforced the principle that India is governed by therule of law, not the rule of the bulldozer.

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He was delivering the Inaugural Sir Maurice Rault Memorial Lecture 2025 in Mauritius on the theme “Rule of Law in the Largest Democracy.”

Referring to the landmark judgment, the CJI said the Court held that demolitions carried out by State authorities violated the fundamental right to shelter under Article 21.

“The executive can't assume the roles of judge, jury, and executioner simultaneously,” CJI Gavai observed.

He added that the judgment laid down clear guidelines to ensure no demolition is carried out in the future without strictly following due legal procedures.