The petitioner claims that the demolition was done based on a false complaint that an anti-India slogan was shouted during a cricket match between India and Pakistan in the Champions Trophy last month.
NEW DELHI: Today, 24th March, The Supreme Court has asked the Maharashtra authorities to respond to a petition that seeks contempt proceedings against them for demolishing a house and shop in Sindhudurg district.
The petitioner claims that the demolition was done based on a false complaint that an anti-India slogan was shouted during a cricket match between India and Pakistan in the Champions Trophy last month.
A bench comprising Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih issued a notice to the Maharashtra government.
“Issue notice,” the bench said, and scheduled the next hearing for four weeks later.
The petition argues that the demolition violated the Supreme Court’s ruling from November 13, 2024.
According to that judgment, no property should be demolished without first issuing a show-cause notice and allowing at least 15 days for the affected party to respond. The ruling laid down strict guidelines applicable across the country to prevent illegal demolitions.
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The Supreme Court’s decision to seek a response from Maharashtra indicates that it is taking the matter seriously. The case will now be heard again after four weeks, and the authorities will have to justify their actions before the court.
Petitioner Kitabulla Hamidulla Khan, in his writ petition filed through Advocate Fauzia Shakil, argued that the demolition of his property was conducted under “political pressure” without prior notice, as a punitive action.
He contended that this violated the Supreme Court’s November 13, 2024, ruling against “bulldozer justice,” which mandates that no demolition should occur without a show cause notice, returnable either within the timeframe prescribed by local municipal laws or within 15 days of service, whichever is later.
The plea stated that while the FIR accused Khan, his wife, and their son of engaging in anti-India sloganeering, the actual events differed. According to Khan, his son was assaulted near a liquor shop while stopping to buy chips after returning from the mosque.
Later that night, a mob attacked their home, assaulting them and their parents. He claimed that an FIR was filed against them based on a complaint by Sachin Varadkar, leading to the couple’s arrest on February 24. They were granted bail the following day.
Khan alleged that after the incident, local MLA Nilesh Rane urged civic authorities to take immediate action against him and his family. Consequently, on February 24, around 1-2 pm, civic authorities demolished their shop and one-room house, citing it as an “illegal structure.”
The plea also noted that after the demolition, Rane posted on X, thanking the Malvan Municipal Council and police for their swift action. Additionally, Khan claimed that his brother’s scrap shop was also demolished solely due to their family connection.
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