New Delhi: The Supreme Court has strongly criticized the Uttar Pradesh government and the Prayagraj administration for their bulldozer demolition drive, calling it “unconstitutional” and “inhuman.” The bench, comprising Justice AS Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, stated, “This shocks our conscience. There is something called the right to shelter and due process of law,” while ordering Rs 10 lakh in compensation for affected homeowners.

Earlier, the court rebuked the state government for demolishing the homes of lawyer Zulfiqar Haider, Professor Ali Ahmed, and three others without proper legal procedures. The petitioners informed the court that they were given eviction notices just a night before the demolition.

The court was also alarmed by claims that authorities mistakenly identified the land as belonging to slain gangster Atiq Ahmed. Questioning the legitimacy of the demolition process, the bench criticized the method of serving notices, rejecting the state’s claim that they were merely affixed to the properties.

“This affixing business must stop. People have lost their homes due to this… Compensation of Rs 10 lakh must be awarded in each case so that authorities remember to follow due process,” Justice Oka said.

Highlighting the lack of “reasonable opportunity” given to the victims, the court reiterated that the right to shelter is a fundamental aspect of Article 21 of the Constitution. The judges also condemned the “insensitivity” displayed by the development authority.

The court further referenced a viral video from Ambedkar Nagar, where a young girl clutched her books as a bulldozer razed homes. “Everyone is disturbed by such scenes,” Justice Bhuyan remarked, emphasizing the need for authorities to respect constitutional rights and legal procedures.