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The high court had sought the state government's reply while raising questions as to whether assets of a "specific community" were singled out "under the pretext of a law and order issue," and if there was an ongoing "effort of ethnic cleansing."
The Deputy Commissioner of Nuh district in Haryana has refuted allegations of religious bias and a selective approach in the demolition drive within the district.
Through the affidavit submitted in a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) petition pending before the High Court concerning the demolitions conducted in Nuh subsequent to the eruption of communal clashes in the vicinity, Deputy Commissioner Dhirendra Khadgata denied any “pick-and-choose policy” and maintained that due procedure was followed.
He stated that during the demolition drive, a total of 354 people were affected of which 283 were Muslims and 71 were Hindus in Nuh which has a predominantly Muslim population accounting for over 79 percent of the total population.
Further, to emphasise that due procedure of law was followed before the demolitions, the Deputy Commissioner stated in the affidavit that "the demolitions in question were routine measures taken by independent local authorities against the owners/ occupiers or illegal structures and that too after following the due procedure of law".
The affidavit read that "the government, while removing encroachments/ unauthorised constructions, never adopted pick-and-choose policy and that too on caste, creed or religion.”
The suo motu case was registered by the court after news reports surfaced pertaining to the demolition drive at Nuh following communal clashes in the city,
It was alleged in the media that the demolition drive targeted the Muslim community alone.
On August 7, the high court had raised apprehensions inquiring whether assets of a "specific community" were singled out "under the pretext of a law and order issue," and if there was an ongoing "effort of ethnic cleansing."
The court had asked the state government to file an affidavit detailing the count of structures that have undergone demolition and whether any prior notifications were issued prior to these demolitions.
Case Title: Court on its own Motion v. State of Haryana
[Inputs: TOI]
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