Supreme Court Weighs in on Property Destruction for Anti-India Slogans

In New Delhi, the Supreme Court has asked a Maharashtra authority to answer a man’s request for taking action against them. This man and his family were in trouble for allegedly shouting anti-India slogans during a cricket match.

A Supreme Court bench, including Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih, issued this notice recently and will review the case in four weeks. The man, Kitabulla Hamidulla Khan from Sindhudurg district, claims that on February 24, police destroyed his house and shop following a report against him, his wife, and their 14-year-old son.

The complaint stated that during the India-Pakistan cricket match, the petitioner’s son shouted anti-India slogans, leading to police action. Kitabulla and his wife were arrested; the son was released after a few hours.

On the same day, authorities demolished his tin shed and house, labeling them as illegal. The petition points out that this action violated a Supreme Court decision from November 2024, which stated that properties cannot be demolished without notice and time for the owner to respond.

Kitabulla argues that the action was unfair and illegal. He mentioned that during the demolition, municipal officers also damaged one of his vehicles. Even though he and his wife were released on bail, the timing of these events shows that the demolition was cruel and intended as punishment.

The plea emphasizes that the right to a home is a basic human right, and the government cannot act harshly against accused individuals without following proper legal processes. It described the scene of demolition as frightening and highlighted a serious lack of justice.

The petitioner is asking for the return of his property and compensation for the damage caused. Additionally, he wants those responsible for the destruction to be punished for not obeying the Supreme Court’s orders.

The Supreme Court had previously mentioned that their guidelines would not apply to properties taken down in public spaces, like roads or sidewalks, unless there was a court order for demolition.