Supreme Court Declines Uniform Policy on Property Demolitions

The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to entertain a petition seeking a uniform policy across the country for regularisation and demolition of long-standing unauthorised constructions.A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana said such issues essentially fall within the policy domain and thus declined the prayer for constitution a court-empowered committee to formulate uniform guidelines on the subject. The Court noted that circumstances vary from State to State and thus different policy frameworks may be needed to deal with facts of each case."It would be difficult and may not be prudent for this Court to lay down a uniform policy framework to be applied across various States," the Court said.However, the Court said the States and Union Territories may consider the issues raised in the petition filed by Centre for Law and Good Governance for the purpose of formulating or revisiting their existing policies. "We are hopeful that due consideration shall be given to all such issues by the competent authorities," it said.Justice Joymalya Bagchi, CJI Surya Kant and Justice V MohanaThe petition filed by Centre for Law and Good Governance said that settlement and regularisation policies have been introduced in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Delhi.However, it added there are cases of unauthorised colonies suddenly being demolished, with or without notice and without any welfare scheme for the rehabilitation of the affected fami