NEW DELHI – Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai has stated that the Supreme Court’s judgment on “bulldozer justice” gave him and his fellow judge “immense satisfaction” because the case dealt with “human problems.” Speaking at a felicitation event, CJI Gavai reflected on the landmark ruling delivered by a bench of which he was a part, alongside Justice K.V. Viswanathan.
The judgment, issued on November 13, 2024, had equated the practice of using bulldozers to demolish homes as a punitive measure with a “lawless state of affairs.” It laid down comprehensive, pan-India guidelines for state authorities to follow before carrying out any demolitions.
“One of the judgments, I think, which gave immense satisfaction to both of us was the bulldozer judgment,” CJI Gavai said. “What was at the heart of the judgment was the human problems and the problems faced by human beings.
The family being harassed only because they were part of the family of one of the members was either a criminal or an alleged criminal.”
He added that while he has been widely credited for the ruling, equal credit for authoring the verdict should go to Justice Viswanathan. The judgment had been a response to petitions challenging the practice of arbitrary demolitions and had underscored the importance of due process and the right to shelter.
