Supreme Court says bulldozer justice violates rule of law

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has declared that “bulldozer justice,” or the use of demolition threats to suppress citizens, is incompatible with the rule of law.

The court’s stance was voiced during a ruling on a 2019 case involving the demolition of a home in Maharajganj, Uttar Pradesh.

Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, heading the bench, stated that justice delivered through bulldozers has no place in a “civilised system of justice.” He emphasized that the state must adhere to due legal processes when addressing illegal encroachments or constructions.

“If such actions are permitted unchecked,” the Chief Justice remarked, “the constitutional recognition of the right to property under Article 300A risks becoming a hollow assurance.”