'This is inhuman and illegal...', SC strict on bulldozer action in Prayagraj; Order to give compensation of Rs 10 lakh each

The Supreme Court has expressed its displeasure over the bulldozer action on houses in Prayagraj. The Supreme Court reprimanded the UP government and the Prayagraj Development Authority and called this action 'inhuman and illegal'.

There is rule of law in the country, this will not work

Terming the demolition as "inhuman", a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan said there is rule of law in the country and residential structures of citizens cannot be demolished like this.

Instructions to give compensation of Rs 10 lakh 

The apex court directed the authority to pay compensation of Rs 10 lakh to each house owner within six weeks. The court had earlier reprimanded the Uttar Pradesh government for carrying out demolition action in Prayagraj without following due legal procedure and said it sent a wrong signal.

Lawyer's claim- demolition was done thinking it was Atiq Ahmed's land

On the other hand, the counsel for the petitioners said that the state government has demolished the houses in an illegal manner. He said that the government demolished it thinking that the land belonged to gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed, who was killed in a police encounter in 2023. The apex court was hearing a plea filed by advocate Zulfiqar Haider, Professor Ali Ahmed and others whose houses were demolished. The Allahabad High Court had dismissed the petition challenging this demolition action. The petitioners were reportedly served notice on 6 March 2021 in relation to certain constructions at Lukarganj in Prayagraj district.

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