The Gujarat government has defended the demolition of certain structures in Gir Somnath district, stating it was necessary to address land encroachment issues. The district collector informed the Supreme Court on Wednesday that the demolitions were carried out in accordance with regulations and did not require court approval, as the structures in question were deemed illegal and situated on public land.
Supreme Court’s Stance
The Supreme Court had previously reserved its ruling on petitions regarding what some have called “bulldozer justice,” temporarily halting further demolitions until it could review the case. However, the court clarified that its stay would not apply in cases of public land encroachment, allowing authorities to take action against illegal constructions without prior permission.
Government’s Defense
In response to claims that the demolitions violated the Supreme Court’s order due to the lack of prior approval, the collector reiterated that the structures were unlawful and located on government property, justifying the need for their removal.
