The escalating trend of state governments demolishing the residences of individuals accused of crimes has become a major issue in the apex court. Increasingly, it is to do with petitioners who are suffering because one member of the family may have committed a transgression, but they all suffer loss of their homes
The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court declared that it has become fashionable for local bodies to tear down any house without complying with the principles of natural justice. Other states have also been guilty of such practices
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has put a stop to rampant bulldozing of private property by the Haryana government which declared that these were properties owned by criminal elements. The demolitions were done without court orders