With the Supreme Court hearing pleas against the demolitions of encroachments that took place in Jahangirpuri in April this year, an application on behalf of hawkers who had legal constructions but still were razed by bulldozers was mentioned on Monday.
Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves mentioned the matter before Justice C.T. Ravikumar and sought it be batched with the main demolition matter.
Justice Ravikumar said all applications filed by the hawkers will be listed along with the main matter.
In May, the Apex Court agreed to hear a petition that sought quashing of notification issued by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation on demolitions in Jahangirpuri. The bench of Justices L. Nageswara Roa, A.S. Bopanna, and B.R. Gavai heard with the Jahangiripuri demolition matters.
On April 21, the bench extended the status quo order passed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana in connection with the demolition drive carried out by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation at Jahangirpuri. The court refused a blanket ban on demolition of encroachments.
Bulldozers in Jahangirpuri razed temporary and concrete constructions, including the outer gate of a mosque at Jahangirpuri. The drive was carried out days after the area witnessed communal violence.
The Supreme Court had asked those whose constructions were demolished to file affidavits clarifying whether they received a notice before the demolition.
The Commissioner of North Delhi Municipal Corporation had informed the court that no house or shop was demolished on April 20 and in any other demolition drives and after the order, the demolition was stopped at around 12 pm.
The Commissioner added that the affected parties misled the authorities by wrongly contending that there is a stay by some competent court.
There are several pleas in the matter including those of CPI(M) Politburo member Brinda Karat and the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind against the use of bulldozers without due process as mandated by law.