SC pauses demolition drive in Assam, issues notice to state government on contempt plea
The residents of Kachutali village alleged that the authorities had violated the court’s directive staying ‘bulldozer action’ across the country till October 1.
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The Supreme Court on Monday restrained the Assam government from carrying out a demolition drive in Kamrup Metropolitan district until further orders, Bar and Bench reported.
The bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan also issued notice to the state government on a contempt petition filed by the residents of Kachutali village near Sonapur town, who have been challenging their eviction from a plot of government land.
The petitioners have alleged that the district administration wilfully violated the top court’s September 17 interim order staying demolitions across the country till October 1 without its permission, Live Law reported.
This came on a batch of petitions challenging “bulldozer action” by various state governments, whereby properties of persons accused of crimes have been punitively demolished. The court’s directive did not apply to unauthorised constructions on public roads, footpaths, railway lines or public places.
On Monday, the court issued notice to the Assam government on the contempt plea filed by Kachutali residents. The petitioners have said that their homes were marked for demolition allegedly without prior intimation, Bar and Bench reported.
The eviction notice alleged that the residents were in “illegal” possession of the land and were “unauthorised” to claim the plot as it was meant for those belonging to the Scheduled Tribes, as per the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation. It ordered them to vacate...