Anti-encroachment drive in Jahangirpuri: Supreme Court hearing on demolition today

The Supreme Court will hear today the matter regarding the anti-encroachment drive that took place in the violence-hit Jahangirpuri area of Delhi.

On Wednesday, SC had put a stay on NDMC’s demolition drive, after hearing the plea filed by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind pleading that the buildings of the Muslim riots accused are being razed.

Jahangirpuri, in the past week, was rocked by clashes on April 16 following an altercation between two groups on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti. On Wednesday, bulldozers rolled into action following NDMC’s direction of anti-encroachment drive in the same affected area, and in the process tore down several structures including houses, shops, and part of the Mosque as considered illegal by NDMC.

A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana ordered maintaining the status quo at the site. Court has to intervene once again after it was apprised by the authorities that NDMC has not stopped their action, on the ground that no official court order has been received by them leading to confusion.

AIMIM party’s chief and Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi reached Jahangirpuri late in the evening on Wednesday. Talking about the anti-encroachment drive Owaisi said, “Legally, a new bulldozer procession has been taken out. Muslims are undergoing collective punishment. I am grateful that the Supreme Court took notice of it and gave an immediate stay.”

NDMC claimed that it was a routine anti-encroachment exercise that it undertakes regularly. “Such drives are conducted regularly in all wars, with/without notice… with prior intimation to the local police,” it said.

Ahead of today’s SC hearing, heavy security has been deployed in the Jahangirpuri area of Delhi.