‘Shocking our conscience’: Supreme Court slams the government, the development agency demolished in Prayagraj

On March 2, 2023, prayagraj Development Authority bulldozer demolished the property of Safdar Ali. Ali is said to be a close help to Atiq Ahmad Image source: PTI

The Supreme Court pulled up the Uttar Pradesh government and Prayagraj Development Authority on Tuesday (1 April 2025), calling it “inhuman and illegal” to demolish houses in the city.

Observing the demolition operation was carried out in a “highly hand” way, with a judge composed of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan saying, “The rule of law in the country has a “rule of law” and the residential structures of citizens cannot be demolished in this way.

“This shocked our conscience. There are some rights called asylum, proper legal proceedings,” the bench said.

Therefore, the Supreme Court directed the authorities to pay Rs 1 million in compensation within six weeks.

Scattered bulldozers: Demolition of Muslim activists’ property

The Supreme Court had previously slammed the Uttar Pradesh government’s demolition of Prayagraj without following proper legal procedures and said it had sent “shocking and wrong signals”.

The petitioner’s lawyers said the state government mistakenly demolished the houses, believing the land belonged to gangster politician Atiq Ahmed, who was killed in a police encounter in 2023.

The Supreme Court is hearing the pleas from advocates Zulfiqar Haider, Professor Ali Ahmed and others whose houses were demolished.

The Allahabad High Court rejected their plea and challenged the demolition. It was reported that the petitioner carried out certain constructions in Lukerganj, Prayagraj district on March 6, 2021.