The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Tuesday pleas which have raised grievances that properties of persons, who are accused of some crime, were being demolished in several States. While hearing these petitions on September 2, the apex court had questioned how can anybody’s house be demolished just because he was an accused.

The apex court had said it proposes to lay down certain guidelines on the issue that would be enforceable across the country.

“How can anybody’s house be demolished only because he is an accused? Even if he is a convict, still it can’t be done without following the procedure as prescribed by law,” observed the bench comprising Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan. However, the court dais it will not protect any unauthorised construction or encroachment on public roads.

“We propose to lay down certain guidelines on ‘pan-India basis’ so that the concerns with regard to the issues raised are taken care of,” the bench had said on September 2. 

It had asked the counsel appearing for the parties to give suggestions so that the court can frame appropriate guidelines.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Uttar Pradesh, had referred to an earlier affidavit filed by the state in the matter. 

He had said the affidavit states that merely because a person was alleged to have been a part of some offence can never be a ground for demolition of his immovable property.

According to Mehta, the state has said demolition of an immovable property can take place “only for violation of and in accordance with the procedure prescribed in the respective applicable municipal law or law governing development authorities of the area”. 

The top law officer had said no immovable property can be demolished solely on the ground that the owner or occupant of such property was involved in a criminal offence.

The counsel appearing for one of the petitioners had said almost every state was now indulging in this and demolishing properties.