The Supreme Court's directive putting a halt to 'bulldozer (in)justice' stating that demolition as a punitive step is against the ethos of the Constitution is all very well and applaudable but would it really affect things on the ground materially ? The Apex Court has asserted that no demolition be carried out till October 1 without taking its approval unless the structure encroached on public land, was built near railway lines or obstructed roads in which case it can be razed without notice. The learned judges explicitly mentioned that the "executive can't be a judge" but the point remains, how can the SC know about the thousands of demolitions taking place on a regular basis unless the government informs it which I am sure it would be loathe to do. The shamelessness with which such egregious actions have been embosomed by BJP ruled states meting out vigilante (in)justice for political gains and subjugating the minorities is beyond alarming. This instrument of oppression has snowballed into a humanitarian issue, with houses of even immediate relatives of perceived 'criminals' being flattened rendering them homeless. The SC directive has already been met with pushback by the Solicitor General of India who asked the judges not to get influenced by 'outside noises'.
