Supreme Court to take up Jamiat plea today against UP demolitions

The supreme Court will take up on Thursday a plea by Jamiat-Ulama-i-Hind against the demolition of private properties in Uttar Pradesh in the wake of violent protests over derogatory remarks against the Prophet. 

The application has been listed before a vacation bench of Justices A S Bopanna and Vikram Nath.

The plea has sought a stay on any further demolition drive that the authorities may be planning to carry out in Kanpur district, which witnessed violence during the protests earlier this month.

On June 12, the Prayagraj administration cited violation of building norms and demolished the house of activist Mohammad Javed who, according to police, is one of the key conspirators behind the violence in the district.

The police have handed over a preliminary list of 37 accused in the protests to the Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) to check for irregularities in their properties  and take action, if needed, including demolition.

In the Jahangirpuri matter, the Supreme Court had refused to order any blanket ban on demolitions across the country.