Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav praised the Supreme Court’s decision on the controversial “bulldozer justice” issue, taking a jibe at the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government. Speaking at a rally in Kanpur’s Sisamau Assembly constituency, Yadav said the bulldozer will now “remain in the garage” following the court’s judgment, which he interpreted as a blow to the state government’s heavy-handed tactics.
“You must know what the Supreme Court has said. It has criticized the bulldozer, which had become a symbol of this government,” Yadav said, thanking the Supreme Court for its verdict. He added, “At least now, the bulldozer will stay in the garage. No poor person’s home will be demolished.”
Yadav also quoted poet Pradeep, whose lines were included in the judgment: “Everyone dreams of a home, a person wants to hold on to the dream of a home.” He said that this message was a strong condemnation of the government’s actions.
The “bulldozer justice” method, where homes are demolished as punishment for alleged criminal involvement, became widely associated with the UP government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The tactic earned Adityanath the nickname “Bulldozer Baba” in media and political circles.
In response to this, the Chief Minister had defended the bulldozer actions in a podcast, saying the government was targeting the land mafia and had not taken action against any innocent people. “If someone captures government property, should we perform their aarti?” Adityanath had remarked.
The Supreme Court, in its judgment, laid down strict guidelines for demolitions, criticizing the arbitrary use of bulldozers against those accused of crimes. The Court stated that the executive cannot bypass the judiciary, emphasizing that guilt should not be prejudged without a fair trial.
The Court’s bench, led by Justices BR Gavai and KV Vishwanathan, said that demolitions must be carried out only when justified by legal due process, warning that public officials acting beyond their authority will face accountability. The Court described the sight of bulldozers demolishing buildings without following basic principles of justice as a sign of a lawless state.
“For an average citizen, construction of a house is the culmination of years of hard work, dreams, and aspirations. House embodies collective hope of security and future. If this is taken away, authorities must satisfy it is the only way,” the Court noted in its judgment.
The Court made it clear that its ruling would not apply to demolitions involving unauthorized structures on public land, such as roads or water bodies, or in cases where demolition orders had been issued by a court.
