Kanpur demolition: UP govt accuses Jamiat of trying to give mala fide colour to legal action

The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday filed a detailed affidavit before the Supreme Court in the petition filed by Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, stating that the religious organisation has attempted to give a mala fide colour to lawful action taken by the local development authorities, as per the procedure established by law.

The Supreme Court is likely to hear the petition filed by Jamiat-E-Ulema tomorrow, seeking directions to the state of Uttar Pradesh to stop any precipitative action in Kanpur district against either residential or commercial properties.

In its order on June 16, the Apex Court had agreed to take up the matter next week for further hearing.

As per the state government, even the two builders in Kanpur, whose buildings were demolished, have admitted that their constructions were illegal. None of the actual affected parties, if any, have approached this Court in relation to the lawful demolition actions, it added.

As per the affidavit, Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind has attempted to give a mala fide colour to lawful action taken by the local development authorities as per procedure established by law by cherry-picking one sided media, reporting a few incidents and extrapolating sweeping allegations from the same against the state.

It also called the allegations as completely false and misleading.

The demolitions referred to in the IAs (Intervention Application) have been carried out by the Local Development Authorities, which are statutory autonomous bodies, independent of the state administration, as per law as part of their routine effort against unauthorised/ illegal constructions and encroachments, in accordance with the UP Urban Planning and Development Act, 1972.

The affidavit further alleged that Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind has failed to place the facts duly supported by affidavits and has merely hand-picked certain media reporting, to make unfounded allegations against the state machinery and its officers, and seeks sweeping omnibus reliefs unfounded in either law or fact.