Bulldozer action in Sambhal: Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Contempt Petition Against Sambhal Administration, Advises Approaching High Court
Sambhal, 7 February – (DeccanLive.com): The Supreme Court on Friday declined to entertain a contempt petition filed against the Sambhal authorities for allegedly violating its previous decision regarding property demolitions. The court advised the petitioner to approach the Allahabad High Court instead.
A bench comprising Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran suggested that the High Court is better equipped to handle the matter. The bench remarked, “The issue can be more effectively resolved by the concerned High Court. Therefore, we direct the petitioner to seek recourse there.”
The petitioner, Mohammad Ghayur, represented by Advocate Chand Qureshi, filed a plea stating that the authorities had violated the Supreme Court’s November 13, 2024 decision. That decision established nationwide guidelines prohibiting the demolition of properties without prior notice and providing affected individuals with 15 days to respond.
The plea alleged that on January 10 and 11, the Sambhal authorities demolished a portion of the petitioner’s property without issuing any notice or providing an opportunity for a response. The petitioner argued that the action was arbitrary, illegal, and in complete violation of the Supreme Court’s directives.
The petitioner claimed that his family possessed all necessary property documents, including an approved map and other relevant papers. Despite this, authorities allegedly entered the property in Tiwari Sarai, Sambhal, and began demolition. The plea emphasized that the Supreme Court’s 2024 order required state authorities to strictly adhere to the established guidelines before proceeding with demolitions.
It further alleged that the authorities acted in blatant disregard for these guidelines, demolishing a part of the petitioner’s factory without prior notice. The plea requested contempt proceedings against the officials for violating court orders and undermining the rule of law.
