Experts differ over legality of bulldozer action

New Delhi: With the Uttar Pradesh government once again starting demolition action against alleged rioters, the legality of the instant bulldozer action seems complex and full of intricacies even as experts differ on the issue.
“Everybody is asking whether the rules were followed by the authorities during the demolition drives. There are Supreme Court judgments which say that to remove any illegal construction, the authorities are not bound to give time to the encroacher. The authorities can remove it straight away. As per these apex court verdicts, the Uttar Pradesh government can remove illegal constructions,” Delhi-based advocate Vineet Jindal told IANS.
Removal of encroachments and demolition without serving notice are different issues, said advocate Robin Raju, emphasising that the issue could be handled more humanely.
He also pointed out the judges who moved the Supreme Court on Tuesday against the bulldozing of homes.
A group of former Supreme Court and high court judges along with senior advocates on Tuesday wrote to the Chief Justice of India, N.V. Ramana, urging him to take suo motu cognisance of the recent demolition drives.
“The Chief Minister (Yogi Adityanath) has reportedly officially exhorted officials ‘to take such action against those guilty to set an example so that no one commits a crime or takes the law into their hands in the future’.