The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday assured the Supreme Court that it would not take action against alleged encroachments in Bahraich, which saw communal clashes and violence last week.
A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan told Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, who appeared for the state, “Till tomorrow, stay your action”.
The SC bench was hearing a plea by some of the residents challenging the notices for demolition served to them by the state administration. The counsel appearing for the petitioners said authorities issued the demolition notice on October 18, and asked them to respond within three days. He claimed that it was a clear violation of the Supreme Court’s interim order which directed that no demotions should be done anywhere in the country without its demolition, Indian Express reported.
It may be noted that the same bench had on September 17 passed an interim order that no construction should be bulldozed without prior permission from the Supreme Court, except those that are encroachments on public spaces.
Senior Advocate Chander Uday Singh mentioned the application before the bench today.
In response to Singh’s mentioning, the State’s counsel informed the bench that the Allahabad High Court is also seized of the matter regarding bulldozer actions. On Sunday, after an urgent hearing, the High Court granted 15 more days to the persons to respond to the notices.
“If they (UP authorities) want to take risk of flouting our order, it’s their choice,” Justice Gavai warned the State.
Justice Gavai said that the Court will take up the application tomorrow and asked the ASG to defer action. In response, the ASG said that no action will be taken till tomorrow, Live Law reported.
Violence erupted on October 13 when some people demanded that the music be stopped as a Durga idol immersion procession passed near their houses and a mosque in the Maharajganj area of Mahasi tehsil. In the ensuing clash, Ram Gopal Mishra, 20, was killed, and several others were injured.
The situation escalated the next day, with protesters demanding strict action against those responsible for Mishra’s killing.