This is first time that SC has imposed hefty fine on UP govt against bulldozer action: Akhilesh Yadav

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], November 9 (ANI): Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav slammed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath saying that this was the first time in the country that the Supreme Court has imposed a hefty fine of Rs 25 lakhs on the Uttar Pradesh government against the bulldozer action.
Akhilesh Yadav said, "Fights are being instigated among the saint community. Those who do not consider anyone greater than themselves, people in the government are creating a rift within saints. It is said that the bigger the saint the lesser he speaks and whenever he speaks he speaks for benefit of humanity."
He further said that the kind of language being used raises doubt about capabilities of the person in power. He said that this is not the Amrit Kaal of freedom but destruction.
"A person is a yogi, not by his clothes but by what he says. Those whose job is to run the government are driving bulldozers and the symbol of development has become the symbol of destruction. This is the first time in the country that the Supreme Court has imposed a hefty fine of Rs 25 lakhs on the Uttar Pradesh government against the bulldozer action," he further said.
Earlier the Supreme Court slammed the Uttar Pradesh government authorities for the illegal demolition of houses for road widening while terming the action by the state as "high-handed" and without authority of law.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra also directed the UP government to grant punitive compensation of Rs 25 lakhs to persons whose house was demolished.
"You can't come with bulldozers and demolish houses overnight. You don't give time family to vacate. What about the household articles? There has to be due process followed," said Justice Pardiwala during the hearing.
The bench further directed the Chief Secretary of the state to conduct a disciplinary enquiry against officers responsible for the illegal demolitions.
The apex court was hearing a suo motu case registered in 2020 based on a letter complaint sent by Manoj Tibrewal Aakash, whose house was demolished in 2019 by state authorities. He claimed that his house was demolished without any prior notice or explanation for allegedly encroaching on a highway. (ANI)