India's Supreme Court bans 'bulldozer justice' as punishment

The court said authorities cannot demolish property of people just because they are accused of crimes.

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The ruling comes in response to a number of petitions seeking action against authorities using demolition as a punitive measure against those accused or convicted of crimes.

"The executive [the government] cannot become a judge and demolish properties. The chilling sight of a bulldozer demolishing a building reminds one of lawlessness where might was right," the Supreme Court said on Wednesday.

It also directed authorities to give sufficient time to the affected person to challenge the order or vacate the property.

The ruling comes against a backdrop of a spate of instances, where authorities in states, particularly governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have used demolition as a tool to punish people accused of crimes.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0k8d3ynvzxo

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