- India as a country is renowned for being the largest democratic nation in the world riding on the legacy of by the people, for the people, and of the people tenet as enshrined in our Constitution. Imagine how such a diverse country spread around a large swathe of landscapes imbued with diversified viewpoints, cultures, traditions, languages, ethnicities, and practices that have continued to remain steadfast in keeping the people together. Needless to mention, the sustainability, progress, and flourishing of the country come from the strong link to the Constitution that we all are so proud to relate to deriving our rights to exist in a dignified manner. The Constitution is supreme duly supported by the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary.
PC: The Daily Guardian
- As you are aware, the three pillars of the Constitution have tremendously contributed to ensuring the country remains as our founding forefathers envisaged while drafting the document. While the responsibilities of the three arms of the Constitution are clearly demarcated, several instances of one stepping on to the other are not uncommon either. Yes, we have often heard about judicial activism when the higher judiciary proactively steps into the executive/legislature domain. Likewise, instances of extrajudicial activism bordering on illegality too have been reported quite consistently of late. Recently in Madhya Pradesh, another case of instant justice was reported even as a house was bulldozed. The SC has the power to stop this, and it must.
- The MP govt has supported its administration’s demolition of a house of an alleged protester in Chhatarpur district. The house owner was allegedly part of a rally against a local cleric, who had earlier made remarks the protesters found objectionable. The protest turned violent. Stones were pelted, vehicles damaged, and the cops injured. Admin and police razed the main accused’s house, and justified it later, claiming it was illegal. The point is, even for razing illegal shanties and structures, there’s due process to be followed, which wasn’t even on the cards. Bulldozer justice as the street calls it, is an instant justice mechanism of razing of houses, shops, or any premises that belong to alleged protesters, rioters, history-sheeters, and even undertrial rapists.
PC: Hindustan Times
- Police and administration are judge and jury – it’s scary that such lawlessness is backed by various governments. No legislation has razing houses as part of the punishment for any offence, let alone the offence of dissent. Even for the demotion of encroachments or illegal dwellings, the SC has repeatedly emphasized the rule of law – notice to be issued for starters. In the Chhatarpur case, instead of arresting protesters, they brought down the accused’s house. Police have taken the law into their own hands – in UP’s Prayagraj, Kanpur, and Saharanpur, in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri, and in MP’s Khargone, to name a few instances. But even SC did not put a stop to the demolitions, though it has real power to do so. This cannot continue unabated. SC must step in to stop this forthwith.
