New Delhi7 minutes ago
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On September 28, Gir Somnath Collector and Gujarat officials had bulldozed the encroachments spread over 57 acres.
The Supreme Court on Friday said that if the officials in Gujarat have disregarded its order on bulldozer action, then we will not only send the officials to jail, but they will also be ordered to get all the properties rebuilt.
This was said by the bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Vishwanathan. The bench was hearing a contempt petition against the bulldozer action taken on September 28 on illegal constructions near the Somnath temple in Gujarat.
In the petition, the entire Patni Muslim Jamaat had demanded action against the violation of the Supreme Court’s order of September 17. During this period, the demand to keep Muslim religious and residential places as they were was rejected.
The Supreme Court has sought a reply from the Gujarat government on this matter. The next hearing will be held on October 16.
Houses and dargah were built 340 meters away from Somnath temple. Patni Muslim Jamaat’s lawyer Sanjay Hegde told the Supreme Court that despite the order, the officials in Gujarat carried out the bulldozer action. Here, bulldozers were used on about 5 dargahs, 10 mosques and 45 houses of the Muslim community in an area of 57 acres.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Gujarat authorities, said that these structures were adjacent to the sea and were about 340 meters away from the Somnath temple.

Petitioner’s arguments
- Advocate Sanjay Hegde said- The matter is related to the dargahs, tombs and houses built in 1903. Even in the notice given, there was no mention of bulldozer action.
- The action is against the order of the Supreme Court, no action should be taken without the permission of the court. The properties do not fall under any exceptions.
defense arguments
- Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the bulldozer action is an exception under the September 17 order. Government land was under occupation, action on which is going on from 2023.
- Notices were given by the government. Everyone was given a chance to be heard. All these encroachments are near the water body i.e. the sea.
Decision reserved on bulldozer action taking place across the country The Supreme Court reserved its verdict on October 1 in the case of bulldozer action taking place across the country. During the hearing, the bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice Vishwanathan had said that the ban on bulldozer action across the country will continue till the decision is taken. The Supreme Court has not yet decided the date of the decision.
However, the court had made it clear that there would be no ban on removal of illegal encroachments. Be it a road, railway line, temple or dargah, illegal encroachment will definitely be removed. For us, public safety is the priority.
What happened in the last 4 hearings in the Supreme Court on bulldozer action?
- October 1: Supreme Court said – If there is demolition, the victim’s property will have to be rebuilt. Said in the hearing on October 1 – If the order is not followed then the action will be rectified. The property will be renovated and the victim will be compensated. Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan suggested that the compensation amount be taken from the vandals. After this, Justice Gavai, pointing towards Justice Vishwanathan, said – My brother has already said this. Read the full news…
- September 17: Center said – do not tie hands, court said – sky will not burst The Supreme Court had said on September 17 that bulldozer action will not take place till October 1. Till the next hearing, not a single bulldozer action should be taken in the country. When the Center questioned this order that the hands of constitutional institutions cannot be tied like this. Then Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Vishwanathan said – If the proceedings are stopped for two weeks then the sky will not burst. Read the full news…
- September 12: Supreme Court said- bulldozer action on laws The Supreme Court had also said on September 12 that the bulldozer action is like running a bulldozer on the laws of the country. The matter was in the bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy, Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice SVN Bhatti. In fact, a family in Gujarat was threatened with bulldozer action by the municipality. The petitioner is a co-owner of a land in Kathlal of Kheda district. Read the full news…
- September 2: Court had said – encroachment is not protection The Supreme Court had said during the hearing on September 2 that even if someone is guilty, this cannot be done without following the legal process. However, the bench had also made it clear that it would not give any protection to encroachment on public roads. But, the parties related to this matter should give suggestions. We can issue guidelines for the entire country.
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