Supreme Court Asserts Public Safety Over Religious Structures in Encroachment Cases

The court emphasized that demolitions must follow due process and cannot target individuals based on criminal accusations or religious affiliations.

The Supreme Court declared that any religious structure encroaching on public roads, water bodies, or rail tracks must be removed for public safety.
Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Viswanathan highlighted that India is a secular country, and the directives apply uniformly, irrespective of religion.
The court clarified that demolitions cannot be justified solely on the basis of criminal accusations or convictions.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta emphasized the necessity of issuing prior notice before any demolition action is taken.
The Supreme Court reserved its order on framing pan-India guidelines for demolition drives and extended the interim order halting demolitions without permission.