Bombay High Court Halts Nagpur Demolitions, Criticizes Lack of Due Process

The court stayed further demolitions after Fahim Khan's house was razed, questioning legal adherence and raising concerns over constitutional rights.

The Bombay High Court issued a stay on further demolitions related to the Nagpur violence, criticizing the administration for acting without proper hearings for property owners.
Fahim Khan, a Minority Democratic Party leader accused of sedition in the March 17 Nagpur riots, had his house demolished despite Supreme Court guidelines requiring due process.
The Nagpur Municipal Corporation cited unauthorized construction and an expired lease but provided only 24 hours' notice before the demolition of Khan's house.
Critics, including legal experts, have condemned the demolitions as collective punishment disproportionately targeting minority communities, violating constitutional protections.
The Supreme Court's November 2024 guidelines on demolitions, emphasizing notice and hearings, remain central to ongoing legal and political debates over 'bulldozer justice.'