In the wake of the September 26 “I Love Muhammad” protest in Bareilly, where police confronted Muslim demonstrators and subsequently undertook punitive demolitions of their homes, the Allahabad High Court has intervened. The court has ordered local authorities to refrain from demolishing properties belonging to petitioners accused of illegal construction for three months.
A Division Bench composed of Justice Ajit Kumar and Justice Satya Veer Singh delivered the ruling while considering a writ petition from Mohd Shahid and seven others under Article 226 of the Constitution.
Following the protest and subsequent violence, authorities began a series of demolitions, citing violations allegedly linked to prominent Muslim cleric Tauqeer Raza and his supporters. Critics have labeled this response as “bulldozer justice,” viewing it as a form of collective punishment aimed at dissenting Muslims.
The petitioners contested a notice issued on October 9, 2025, demanding the removal of alleged illegal structures within 15 days. Their counsel argued that the municipality had been collecting taxes on these buildings for an extended period, thereby regularizing them. They claimed that the notice resembled a final order that bypassed principles of natural justice.
In defense, state and local authorities, represented by the Additional Chief Standing Counsel and municipal counsel, asserted that responses had already been submitted. They contended that the issue could be addressed through a typical show-cause process.
In concluding the case, the court stated that petitioners must individually respond to the notice within four weeks. Following the submission of responses, the competent authority is required to make determinations regarding the show-cause notices within two months, ensuring that the petitioners receive a reasonable opportunity for a personal hearing. The court explicitly ordered that no coercive action or demolition should occur for three months from the date of the ruling or until the authority completes its proceedings, whichever comes first.
The state counsel has been instructed to promptly inform the Bareilly administration about the protective order. While the relief is temporary, it provides residents with protection against immediate demolitions as their claims are evaluated in accordance with legal standards.
In October, the Bareilly Municipal Corporation had issued notices claiming that 27 homes had been constructed illegally on municipal land, warning that FIRs could be lodged and demolition costs recovered from residents.
On a related note, the Supreme Court recently issued a similar order, calling for an immediate halt to the demolition of Aiwan-e-Farhat, a marriage hall owned by Farhat Jahan and Sarfaraz Wali Khan. This intervention grants seven days of protection, advising petitioners to approach the Allahabad High Court, ensuring that no demolition takes place until then.
This report originally appeared on Maktoob Media.
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