Tanveer Hussain
Budgam, Aug 28: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has restrained the District Administration Budgam from carrying out a demolition drive in areas falling under the jurisdiction of the Budgam Municipal Committee, bringing relief to affected residents.
The petition had been filed by Advocate Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi, challenging an order of the Urban Local Bodies that permitted demolition of private properties under the Master Plan 2023, allegedly without the consent of landowners.
Addressing the media, Advocate Muntazir said the demolition order was in violation of Articles 14, 21, and 300-A of the Constitution, which protect equality, life, and the right to property. “The rule of law is clear that no executive order can deprive a person of their property without due process,” he stated, welcoming the court’s intervention as a significant step in protecting public interest.
In its interim order, the High Court directed the administration not to proceed with the demolition drive unless proper legal procedure is followed. This includes obtaining consent, providing compensation, and ensuring rehabilitation and resettlement where required.
The ruling has been hailed by locals as a much-needed reprieve from what they termed arbitrary administrative action. Legal experts have described the order as a key assertion of constitutional safeguards against executive overreach. [KNT]
