India's Supreme Court has warned state authorities that bulldozing illegally constructed homes in an "arbitrary pick and choose" way is an abuse of their powers.

India’s Supreme Court banned the use of so-called “bulldozer justice,” the government demolition of homes by state officials to punish those accused of crimes that activists said was a tactic predominantly used by Hindu nationalist authorities ...

The tactic, in which state governments raze the homes and businesses of people as acts of retribution, has been on the rise in recent years.

The Supreme Court on November 13, 2024 condemned States which are punishing accused undertrial persons by bulldozing their homes. This is a naked display of “might is right” said the apex court while

India's Supreme Court released a ruling on Wednesday finding that the country's authorities cannot use demolition of properties as punishment for those accused or convicted of crimes. It set

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath (left) and former chief justice of India, Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, are seen at a function in Uttar Pradesh on Feb. 16. ‘Bulldozer justice’ in India was the brainchild of Yogi Adityanath. (Photo: AFP)

India's Supreme Court has said that authorities cannot demolish homes merely because a person has been accused of a crime and has laid down strict guidelines for any such action.

India's Supreme Court has ruled that 'bulldozer justice' — instant demolitions mainly targeting Muslims for alleged crimes — is unconstitutional, rebuking authorities close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.