Nagpur municipal body apologises for defying SC directive, bulldozing homes of violence case accused

The Nagpur Municipal Corporation on Tuesday offered an unconditional apology to the Bombay High Court for defying the Supreme Court’s ruling on demolitions by bulldozing allegedly illegal portions of the homes of two persons accused of being involved in the communal violence in the city in March, Live Law reported.

In its affidavit filed before the High Court, the municipal corporation said that it was unaware of the Supreme Court’s November ruling as it had not received the guidelines from the Maharashtra government, PTI reported.

The municipal corporation apologised to the High Court for partially bulldozing the home of the mother of Minorities Democratic Party leader Fahim Khan, who is the main person accused of being involved in the March 17 violence.

There are no provisions in Indian law that allow for the demolition of property as a punitive measure. However, the practice has become commonplace in Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states.

The Nagpur Municipal Corporation and its officials would not intentionally disobey the orders of the High Court, the Supreme Court or lower courts, the affidavit contended.

In November, the Supreme Court held as illegal the practice of demolishing properties of persons accused of crimes as a punitive measure. It said that processes must be followed before removing allegedly illegal encroachments.

The Nagpur Municipal Corporation commissioner told the court on Tuesday that he found that the town planning department...

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