Supreme Court of India on on July 31, temporarily halted the demolition of 25 homes in the central state of Madhya Pradesh, granting interim relief to residents who said they had lived there for more than four decades.
The order came after residents challenged a Madhya Pradesh High Court decision that declined to stay the proposed demolition of the houses in Khandwa district.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana directed authorities to maintain the status quo on the proposed demolition until the next hearing.
During an urgent hearing, counsel for the petitioners, Nizam Pasha, said the families had lived at the site for more than 40 years and faced the imminent loss of their homes unless the court intervened.
The bench ordered: “List on August 3, 2026. Till then, status quo regarding demolition be maintained.”
The order prevents the Khandwa Municipal Corporation from proceeding with the demolition until the Supreme Court hears the matter further.
The dispute concerns 25 houses in Khandwa’s Shakkar Talab area. Municipal authorities say the structures are unauthorized encroachments and have issued demolition notices. The residents argue they have occupied the land for decades and that the proposed action violates due process and legal safeguards.
The petition reached the Supreme Court after the Jabalpur bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court refused to grant interim relief, prompting the residents to file a Special Leave Petition.
The petition was filed with legal assistance from the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), which said it moved the Supreme Court under the court’s urgent filing procedure after the High Court’s order.
Media reports said the proposed demolition followed an alleged cattle slaughter case in the district. According to the reports, some Hindu nationalist groups had demanded action against those accused, after which the administration initiated demolition proceedings. Authorities have maintained that the notices were issued solely over alleged encroachments and violations of municipal rules.
The case comes against the backdrop of the Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling that laid down nationwide safeguards for property demolitions, holding that demolitions cannot be used as a punitive measure. The court said authorities must follow due process, including issuing notices, providing adequate time to respond and offering an opportunity to be heard before carrying out demolitions. It also warned that officials who violated the guidelines could face contempt proceedings and personal liability.
The Supreme Court is expected to examine whether the proposed demolition complies with those safeguards and constitutional protections when it hears the case next. Until then, the demolition of the 25 homes will remain on hold.
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