Editor's Pick: SC questions Jahangirpuri demolition drive, extends status quo

The Supreme Court on Thursday questioned the nature of the “anti-encroachment” drive conducted on Wednesday in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri by the Union Home Ministry-controlled North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC). “Do you need bulldozers to clear stalls, chairs, tables and boxes,” the apex court asked the NDMC. The question came in response to a statement made in court by Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta, representing the NDMC that the law permitted the removal of “stalls, benches, boxes, ladders”, and the likes, occupying public streets and footpaths without permission. The Bench of Justices L. Nageswara Rao and B.R. Gavai extended the status quo order to halt the “anti-encroachment” until further orders. The Bench also allowed those affected by the demolition drive to file affidavits, especially on whether their possessions were destroyed without prior notice. While residents flagged that they were not given any prior notice as required by the law, NDMC submitted in Court that prior notice was indeed issued. The Bench also took a “serious view” of the demolitions that continued over an hour after its issuance of the status quo order on Wednesday. Even as the drive was described by the NDMC as part of a demolition process that had begun in January, the Jahangirpuri drive was conducted in quick succession to the communal clashes that followed a religious procession on Hanuman Jayanti. The drive was undertaken a day after Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta wrote to the NDMC to identify illegal constructions of “rioters” in Jahangirpuri and demolish them using bulldozers. The report on the SC extending the status quo on the drive and questioning its scope appears on the front page of The Hindu as it highlights that bulldozers are emerging as a dominant symbol of state-backed intimidation of certain communities, as pointed out by an editorial in The Hindu. The Jahangirpuri drive was preceded by a similar bulldozing of residences in Madhya Pradesh of people alleged to have been involved in the communal clashes that took place on Ram Navmi in the Khargone district. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor‘s Pick and more. Click here The Hindu’s Editorials Dangerous deceptions: On Jahangirpuri demolition drive Growing ambitions: On China-Solomon Islands pact The Hindu’s Daily Quiz What is the name of the West Indies cricketer who announced his retirement from international cricket after playing for over 15 years? Kemar Roach Darren Bravo Kieron Pollard Carlos Brathwaite To find out the answer and play the full quiz, click here [logo] Editor's Pick 22 APRIL 2022 [The Hindu logo] In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [Arrow]( [Open in browser]( [Mail icon]( [More newsletters]( SC questions Jahangirpuri demolition drive, extends status quo The Supreme Court on Thursday [questioned the nature of the “anti-encroachment” drive]( conducted on Wednesday in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri by the Union Home Ministry-controlled North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC). “Do you need bulldozers to clear stalls, chairs, tables and boxes,” the apex court asked the NDMC. The question came in response to a statement made in court by Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta, representing the NDMC that the law permitted the removal of “stalls, benches, boxes, ladders”, and the likes, occupying public streets and footpaths without permission. The Bench of Justices L. Nageswara Rao and B.R. Gavai extended the status quo order to halt the “anti-encroachment” until further orders. The Bench also allowed those affected by the demolition drive to file affidavits, especially on whether their possessions were destroyed without prior notice. While residents [flagged]( that they were not given any prior notice as required by the law, NDMC submitted in Court that prior notice was indeed issued. The Bench also took a “serious view” of the demolitions that continued over an hour after its issuance of the status quo order on Wednesday. Even as the drive was described by the NDMC as part of a demolition process that had begun in January, the Jahangirpuri drive was conducted in quick succession to the communal clashes that followed a religious procession on Hanuman Jayanti. The drive was undertaken a day after Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta wrote to the NDMC to identify illegal constructions of “rioters” in Jahangirpuri and demolish them using bulldozers. The report on the SC extending the status quo on the drive and questioning its scope appears on the front page of The Hindu as it highlights that bulldozers are emerging as a dominant symbol of state-backed intimidation of certain communities, as pointed out by an [editorial in The Hindu](. The Jahangirpuri drive was preceded by a similar bulldozing of residences in Madhya Pradesh of people alleged to have been involved in the communal clashes that took place on Ram Navmi in the Khargone district. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor‘s Pick and more.  [Click here]( The Hindu’s Editorials [Arrow][Dangerous deceptions: On Jahangirpuri demolition drive]( [Arrow][Growing ambitions: On China-Solomon Islands pact]( The Hindu’s Daily Quiz What is the name of the West Indies cricketer who announced his retirement from international cricket after playing for over 15 years? - Kemar Roach - Darren Bravo - Kieron Pollard - Carlos Brathwaite To find out the answer and play the full quiz, [click here]( Today’s Best Reads [[This is India’s moment of reckoning] This is India’s moment of reckoning]( [[Everything about this refugee deterrent plan is flawed] Everything about this refugee deterrent plan is flawed]( [[Is India heading towards a possible fourth wave of COVID-19?] Is India heading towards a possible fourth wave of COVID-19?]( [[Animosity resurfaces in Hubballi] Animosity resurfaces in Hubballi]( Copyright @ 2022, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. 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