UN Spl Rapporteurs raise bulldozing issue with Govt of India, say it is against any law

New Delhi: Expressing concern over the demolition of houses of protestors in states, United Nations Special Rapporteurs have taken up the matter with the Government of India urging it to stop what they called these ”illegal” acts which are both against the country’s Constitution and against the international law.

The demolitions of the houses of Muslims were ordered by the local authorities following intercommunal conflict .

Prof. Balakrishnan Rajagopal, Special UN Rapporteur on the Right to Housing, in an interview to Karan Thapar for The Wire on Friday said that such illegal acts tend to tarnish the image of India.

He also said the matter could be raised by individual members in the UN bodies.

The letter to the Government was written was written on June 9, just two days before the Yogi government’s authorities in Uttar Pradesh bulldozed the house of Mohammad Javed, father of Aafreen who took part in a protest against the remarks made by two BJP leaders over prophet Mohammad.

Prof Rajgopalna said house of a person cannot be demolished just because he or she is an accused, and even a convicted person’s house cannot be razed without due process of law.

When Karan Thapar asked him to comment on the fact that the Supreme Court just made an observation against demolition of houses made in response to a petition, but did not order its stoppage, Prof Rajgopal said he hoped that it was not the court’s final order, and but added that the apex court had great responsibilities and had power of remedies to give some relief to the victims .

—INDIA NEWS STREAM