The Supreme Court of India delivered a verdict condemning the practice known as “bulldozer justice,” local media reported Sunday. The apex court of India categorically denounced unlawful demolitions as “unacceptable,” highlighting their disproportionate impact on marginalized communities, especially Muslims.

The Supreme Court’s verdict arose from a case involving the demolition of a house in the state of Uttar Pradesh in 2019. The court asserted that citizens’ voices must not be silenced through threats of property destruction and mandated that due process be followed in demolition proceedings. In addition to halting unlawful demolitions, the court directed authorities to provide adequate compensation to the petitioner and all those affected by such punitive actions across India.

Aakar Patel, chair of the board at Amnesty International India, praised the ruling as a crucial step in upholding the rights of individuals against state-sanctioned punitive actions. Patel emphasised that the judgment is a “big win” in combating widespread and unlawful demolitions that have been justified by political leaders and media narratives, further urging both central and state governments to immediately cease these demolitions, which have often resulted in forced evictions and homelessness. Amnesty International had previously documented instances of arbitrary demolitions across multiple states, framing them as part of a broader campaign against minority communities protesting discriminatory laws.

“Bulldozer justice” in India refers to the extrajudicial demolition of properties without due legal process. The practice has predominantly affected marginalized communities, particularly Muslims, in the aftermath of communal violence and protests. According to Amnesty, there have been at least 128 documented cases of such demolitions across various states across the country.