Bulldozer Justice and Alice in Wonderland

As the Bhagwant Mann government bulldozes homes of alleged drug peddlers, is the rule of law being buried under the rubble?

THE PUNJAB Government has decided to take strong steps to suppress drug trade and drug addiction, which have become widespread in Punjab, and this must be welcomed.

However, the method adopted by the Punjab Government is wholly unacceptable.

The Punjab authorities are bulldozing the houses of alleged drug peddlers, following the Uttar Pradesh model, which has been criticized by the Supreme Court.

The Punjab government has announced that not only will it seize the properties of drug dealers, but it will also demolish them. It has further declared that it will make the state drug-free within three months.

I submit that while the Punjab Government’s intention to eradicate drugs from the state may be beyond reproach, its method is wholly illegal and unacceptable.

Also Read: Is Punjab Upholding SC Orders in Its Drug Crackdown?

The Indian Supreme Court has condemned the demolition of a person’s house merely because they are accused of a crime.

The rule of law demands that before any house is demolished, the person concerned must be given a hearing by a court of law or an appropriate statutory authority. Demolition can only be ordered by a court or statutory authority in accordance with the procedure laid down in the relevant statute.

To demolish a house before granting such a hearing is akin to behaving like the Queen of Hearts in Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, who would order, “Off with his head!” whenever anyone accused of a crime was brought before her.

If anyone asked about giving the accused a hearing, she would reply, “Off with his head first; the hearing will be given afterward.”

I regret to say this, but the Punjab Government is behaving like the Queen of Hearts.

Also Read:
Punjab: Rule of Law vs Bulldozed Justice

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