Punjab And Haryana High Court Raises Question Of ‘Ethnic Cleansing’ In Notice To Cease Demolition In Nuh

NEW DELHI: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday halted the bulldozer action in communal violence-wracked Nuh and Gurugram, passing a strongly worded order with the question as to whether only buildings belonging to a particular community were demolished by masking it as a law and order problem.

The high court, while issuing notice to the Haryana government, also made a reference to "ethnic cleansing,” raising a remarkable issue.

"The issue also arises whether the buildings belonging to a particular community are being brought down under the guise of law and order problem, and an exercise of ethnic cleansing is being conducted by the State," the order said.

The court also referred to Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij making a remark about bulldozers being a part of ‘ilaaj’ (Hindi for treatment), even as the state government is continuing its probe into communal violence.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court made a scathing comment, illuminating it by using a quote by English writer and historian Lord Acton.

"Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely," the court quoted Lord Acton, while including it in its order containing the notice to the state government.

The court came down heavily on the Haryana government, saying that it has become apparent that the buildings are being brought down without any demolition orders and notices, while it used the law and order problem as a ruse to bring down buildings without following the procedure established by law.

The court also referred to media reports which claimed that the houses and shops being demolished belonged to some of those allegedly involved in "anti-social activity" who have made illegal constructions.

The Haryana government was directed by the court to furnish an affidavit enumerating how many buildings have been demolished in both Nuh and Gurugram in the last two weeks, questioning whether any notice had been issued before commencing demolition.

Following the ruling of the high court, Deputy Commissioner Dhirendra Khadgata had on Monday, asked officials concerned with the demolition drive to stop the bulldozer action.

The court had taken up the demolition matter suo motu, a week after the communal clashes that erupted in Haryana claimed six lives, leading to a huge loss of property and sparked panic in Nuh and Gurugram.

During the four days of the demolition drive, over 350 shanties and 50 cement structures were demolished in both places.

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