Supreme Court Extends Stay on Demolitions Across India

The Supreme Court of India has extended its order freezing demolitions nationwide without prior permission from the court, Muslim Mirror reported today.

A bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan reserved decisions on establishing pan-India directives following petitions alleging unlawful demolitions by state authorities without adequate notice.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta suggested that notices should be served via registered post, with alternatives for unaccepted deliveries. The court emphasized that any directives would apply equally, regardless of religion, and stated that public safety is paramount.

The court also considered creating an online portal to track demolition notices. Senior advocate C.U. Singh argued for a uniform notice period nationwide, while advocate M.R. Shamshad called for comprehensive area surveys before demolitions. The court reiterated that unauthorized structures must be demolished according to legal procedures, ensuring that such actions are not taken for extraneous reasons.