Udaipur Stabbing Case: PUCL Condemns 'Bulldozer Justice' as Only Muslim Home Demolished in Settlement of 200, Urges High Court Intervention

Udaipur- The People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has called upon the Rajasthan High Court to intervene against what they describe as illegal and discriminatory actions by state authorities in Udaipur. In a letter addressed to the Chief Justice, senior PUCL representatives have expressed grave concerns over the state's actions, labeling them as "bulldozer justice." The letter urges the High Court to take suo moto cognizance of the situation.

The letter, signed by PUCL National President Kavita Srivastava, Rajasthan Unit President Bhanwar Meghwanshi, General Secretary Anant Bhatnagar, Udaipur Unit President Arun Vyas, and General Secretary Mohammed Yaqub, details an incident from August 16, 2024. It describes how a Muslim school student stabbed his Hindu classmate in Udaipur. The minor has since been taken into custody, and his father was also arrested, though the reasons for the father's arrest remain unclear.

The letter further reveals that on the same day, the Forest Department issued a notice to the minor's father, instructing him to vacate their home by August 20, 2024, as it was allegedly located in a protected wildlife area. The letter notes, however, that over 200 houses exist in the same area, yet only this family has been targeted. The PUCL claims that this selective targeting is an attempt to incite communal tensions.

The PUCL argues that this discriminatory approach by state authorities violates fundamental rights and principles of natural justice. Before the family could challenge this arbitrary action in court, the administration demolished their home with a bulldozer, leaving the family homeless. Now, the family has no place to go, and their relatives and friends are unwilling to shelter them out of fear of similar retribution.

The letter contends that the state’s actions are an attempt to communalize an isolated incident simply because the accused is from the Muslim minority, while the victim belongs to the Hindu majority. The PUCL points out that nowhere in the Juvenile Justice Act is the state authorized to act in such a brutal and discriminatory manner.

The PUCL letter also cites previous criticism of 'bulldozer justice' by the Supreme Court of India, along with various High Courts in Uttar Pradesh, Guwahati, Allahabad, Jabalpur, and Delhi. The organization has called for immediate judicial intervention to ensure the relevance of the judiciary is maintained. They also demand the resettlement of the displaced family, compensation for the illegal demolition, and strict legal action against the responsible officials.

Lastly, the PUCL appeals for the High Court to oversee the criminal investigation, expressing doubts about the fairness of the Udaipur police and administration, given their apparent bias against the accused. The PUCL requests the High Court to treat this letter as a petition and issue appropriate orders.