'It has become fashionable now': Madhya Pradesh High Court raps bulldozer action in Ujjain

The Madhya Pradesh High Court was highly critical of the practice of razing down houses of those accused in criminal cases. The court said that the civic authorities are demolishing the homes without adhering to the principles of natural justice.

"It has become fashionable now for local administration and local bodies to demolish any house by drawing up proceedings without complying with the principles of natural justice and publish it in the newspaper," the court said, according to Bar and Bench outlet.

The Indore bench of the court made these observations earlier this month while hearing a plea filed by two persons, whose houses were illegally demolished by the Ujjain Municipal Corporation. The court awarded compensation of Rs 1 lakh each.

The commissioner of the corporation informed the court that the houses owned by the first petitioner were demolished after they did not respond to the notices.

The court said that there were registered sale deeds in the name of the petitioners and that they had not approached the corporation for mutation of their name.

"Although they did not inform about the aforesaid sale to the Municipal Corporation by submitting a registered sale deed for mutation of their name, they are residing in the said house as owner" it added.