'Bulldozer parked in garage': Opposition hails SC order on 'bulldozer justice' - Who said what

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav welcomed the top court's order. (File photo: PTI)

The Supreme Court on Wednesday warned the executive against overstepping its constitutional remit and laid down a strict code for bulldozer demolition. Hearing a case against "bulldozer justice", the top court ruled that in case of violations the officers concerned will be responsible for restitution of property at personal cost, in addition to damages.

The court made it categorically clear that the voice of citizens could not be throttled by a threat of destroying their properties, and that such action was unacceptable under the rule of law.

The Opposition has hailed the Supreme Court's order as "welcome relief" and thanked the top court for the necessary intervention.

Addressing a rally in UP's Sismau, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav took on the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh and said that the bulldozer had become the symbol of the current regime.

"What can you expect from those who only know how to demolish houses? At least today, their bulldozer will remain parked in the garage, now no one's house will be demolished...“What can be a bigger comment against the government than this? We have full faith in the court. One day, our MLAs will be released and will come among us. They will work like they used to do earlier,” he said.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also welcomed the SC order and hoped that the order would serve as an example to prevent state governments from collectively punishing Muslims.

"The bulldozer judgement of the Supreme Court is a welcome relief. The most important part of it is not in its eloquence, but the enforceable guidelines. Hopefully they will prevent state governments from collectively punishing Muslims & other marginalised groups," Owaisi wrote in a post on X.

"We should remember that no less than Narendra Modi has celebrated bulldozer raj, which SC today called a lawless state of affairs,” he added.

Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate also welcomed the top court's order and said that while it was important to punish the guilty, the arbitrary demolition of homes was inappropriate.

"The Supreme Court has delivered its verdict today, and it is indeed like showing a mirror to the BJP government, especially in Uttar Pradesh. The excessive arbitrary actions being taken by BJP governments across the country, whether in Uttar Pradesh or Madhya Pradesh, are illegal and should not happen. Punishing the guilty is necessary, but arbitrarily demolishing homes and, above all, dividing society is inappropriate. There is no such thing as "bulldozer justice." There is a Constitution, there is the rule of law, and that is what will prevail in this country," she said.

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole also hit out at Uttar Pradesh CM Adityanath and advised him limit his politics to UP. “The BJP government has started to play the politics of creating fear by misusing ED, CBI and bulldozer in some states. The SC has snubbed them and we welcome that,” Patole said.

Azad Samaj Party chief Chandrashekhar Azad also welcomed the order and termed it a "slap in the face" for the BJP government in UP. "This is a slap in the face for the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh, highlighting that you cannot demolish someone’s home without proving them guilty or without a court's decision. I thank the Supreme Court for this," he said.

Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj also reacted to the development and said that the Constitution dictates thataction against anyone should be done only in accordance with the law.

"This country is governed by the Constitution. Action against anyone should be taken according to the law. This ‘bulldozer tactic’ being enforced is illegal. Wherever bulldozer actions are happening, the government there and the state High Courts should have already taken note of it," he said.

CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat said she wished the judgment could have come earlier. “I welcome the Supreme Court judgment holding bulldozer actions as being illegal and malafide. I only wish the judgment had come earlier as it would have saved the bulldozing of many, many houses across BJP-led states,” she said in a statement.