The Punjab and Haryana High Court's intervention on Monday had halted the bulldozer action carried out in the Nuh district after violence broke out in Haryana last week.
The Court noted that the Haryana government is "using force and is demolishing buildings on account of the fact that some riots have occurred in Gurugram and Nuh."
"Apparently, without any demolition orders and notices, the law and order problem is being used as a ruse to bring down buildings without following the procedure established by law," the Court observed, reported LiveLaw.
Division bench of Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Harpreet Kaur Jeewan had ordered halt of the demolition drive. "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," said the bench.
A suo motu cognizance was taken by the court regarding the ongoing demolition drive in Nuh, Gurugram which followed the communal clashes.
Home Minister Anil Vij had earlier said that bulldozers are part of the routine treatment against 'illegal' constructions and it will be “used wherever necessary”. On the Home Minister's remarks from the newspaper reports, Court noted that "power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
"We are of the considered opinion that the Constitution of India protects the citizens of this country and no demolitions as such can be done without following the procedure prescribed in law,” said bench, reported LiveLaw.
Over 50 structures in different areas have been demolished so far. A 23-year-old mosque member was stabbed to death and a deputy Imam suffered grievous injuries in the mob attack on July 31.
