Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih also directed that until further orders, there shall be no demolition of the structure in question. The bench passed the order while hearing a contempt plea against the authorities concerned in Kushinagar for their alleged wilful disobedience. The plea alleged that the demolition was carried out without following the due legal process and in clear contravention of the guidelines issued by the top court in November last year. The top court laid down pan-India guidelines and barred demolition of properties without a prior show cause notice and 15 days’ time to the aggrieved party to respond. It also sought directions for restoration or suitable compensation to rectify the situation caused by the demolition. The matter will be heard again after two weeks, the bench said and posted the matter for hearing after 2 weeks. The judgement had come on November 13, 2024, and was based on the Supreme Court of India’s guidelines on demolition of. properties in public spaces such as roads, streets, footpaths, abutting railway lines or a river or water bodies apart from cases where there was a court order for demolition.
