Supreme Court pulls up UP govt for Prayagraj demolitions: 'Shocks our conscience'

The court has set a deadline of six weeks for the compensation to be disbursed.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday launched a sharp criticism of the Uttar Pradesh government and the Prayagraj Development Authority, calling the demolition of homes in the city "inhuman and illegal."

A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan observed that the demolition action was carried out in a "high-handed" manner and reiterated that "there is rule of law in the country," underlining that citizens' residential structures cannot be demolished arbitrarily.

"This shocks our conscience. There is something called right to shelter, due process of law," the bench remarked.

The bench also directed the Prayagraj Development Authority to pay Rs 10 lakh compensation to each house owner whose residential structure was demolished. The court has set a deadline of six weeks for the compensation to be disbursed.

Prior to this, the apex court had strongly condemned the UP government for its demolition drive in Prayagraj, stating that the actions, taken without following due legal procedure, sent a "shocking and wrong signal."

The court had earlier, on March 25, raised concerns about the "high-handed" approach of the authorities, noting that homes were razed within 24 hours of serving notices, leaving no opportunity for appeal.

"It shocks our conscience how the residential premises were demolished in a high-handed manner. The manner in which the whole process has been conducted is shocking. Courts cannot tolerate such process. If we tolerate in one case, it will continue," the bench had observed.

The court had further stated that it would permit reconstruction of the demolished homes at the petitioners’ cost, provided they file appeals before the appellate authority within the specified time and do not claim ownership rights over the land or create third-party interests.

The petitioners' counsel, on Tuesday, argued that the state authorities had wrongly demolished homes under the assumption that the land belonged to gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed, who was killed in a police encounter in 2023.

The plea before the top court was filed by advocate Zulfiqar Haider, professor Ali Ahmed, and others whose homes were demolished. The Allahabad High Court had earlier rejected their challenge against the demolitions. Reports indicate that the petitioners were served a notice regarding certain constructions in Prayagraj’s Lukerganj area on March 6, 2021.

The case stems from demolitions in Prayagraj, where the state government had allegedly bulldozed houses, believing they were linked to gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed, who was killed in 2023.