Supreme Court Dismisses Contempt Petition on Bulldozer Demolitions in UP, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand

The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to entertain a contempt plea filed by the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW), alleging punitive demolitions of properties in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan. The Bench, comprising Justice BR Gavai, Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra, and Justice KV Viswanathan, dismissed the plea, stating that NFIW could not be considered an aggrieved party. Justice Gavai reasoned that the petitioner was a third party and emphasized that affected individuals should come forward themselves, as allowing third-party petitions could lead to an influx of similar cases. The plea had cited instances of demolitions in Haridwar, Jaipur, and Kanpur, alleging that the actions violated a previous Supreme Court order staying demolitions without prior permission. The Court, however, dismissed the argument that those affected lacked access to justice. The Uttar Pradesh government’s representative, Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, also argued that the plea was based on newspaper reports. The Court has reserved its judgment on other petitions seeking to prevent authorities from using demolitions as a punitive measure against individuals accused in criminal cases. Its interim order, prohibiting such demolitions without prior court approval, remains in effect.