Allegations Of Illegal Demolitions Prompt Supreme Court Action In Gujarat

Following a petition from 47 residents of Assam regarding alleged illegal demolitions in defiance of a Supreme Court order concerning the "bulldozer" issue, another contempt petition has been submitted to the Court. This latest petition accuses Gujarat authorities of unlawfully demolishing Muslim religious and residential structures on September 28, without issuing prior notice or providing an opportunity for a hearing.

The Summast Patni Muslim Jamat, a Trust representing the Patni Muslim community of Prabhas Patan, filed the petition. It alleges that "the respondents carried out an illegal demolition early in the morning of September 28, 2024, targeting centuries-old Muslim places of worship, including mosques, eidgahs, dargahs, mausoleums, and the residential properties of the dargah's Mutawallis, without any prior notices or hearings."

The petitioners argue that the Gujarat authorities breached a Supreme Court order issued on September 17 by proceeding with demolitions without prior notification. The petition calls for the initiation of contempt proceedings and includes the Principal Secretary of Gujarat State, a Collector, the District Magistrate, the Superintendent of Police (Gir Somnath), and others as respondents.

This matter is set to be heard today before a bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Vishwanathan. The petition has been filed by Advocate-on-Record Anas Tanwir and drafted by Advocates Ebad Ur Rahman and Juned Shelat.