NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the state of Assam to maintain status quo on Sonapur demolitions drive and issued a notice to the authorities in response to a contempt petition filed by 47 residents, who alleged deliberate non-compliance with the Court's interim order dated September 17.
The order had directed that no demolition should occur anywhere in the country without the Court's prior approval.
Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan, constituting the bench, issued a notice returnable within three weeks and directed the parties to maintain the status quo in the intervening period.
Raising serious concern over bulldozers being used as a punitive tool, which SC said was against the ethos of the Constitution and needed to be subjected to " judicial oversight ", Justices Gavai and Viswanathan said there was apprehension of its misuse by the executive, which could not act as the judge.
However, the bench said that its order would not come in the way of authorities taking action in case of encroachment on roads and public land, and structures built on it could be demolished without notice even if they were religious in nature.
SC passed the interim order that would remain valid till the next date of hearing on Oct 1 after it was alleged that razing of houses and commercial property continued unabated in different states even after SC frowned on the practice and agreed to examine a plea for framing guidelines.
The order had directed that no demolition should occur anywhere in the country without the Court's prior approval.
Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan, constituting the bench, issued a notice returnable within three weeks and directed the parties to maintain the status quo in the intervening period.
Raising serious concern over bulldozers being used as a punitive tool, which SC said was against the ethos of the Constitution and needed to be subjected to " judicial oversight ", Justices Gavai and Viswanathan said there was apprehension of its misuse by the executive, which could not act as the judge.
However, the bench said that its order would not come in the way of authorities taking action in case of encroachment on roads and public land, and structures built on it could be demolished without notice even if they were religious in nature.
SC passed the interim order that would remain valid till the next date of hearing on Oct 1 after it was alleged that razing of houses and commercial property continued unabated in different states even after SC frowned on the practice and agreed to examine a plea for framing guidelines.
