Supreme Court of India Transfers Bulldozer Justice Petitions to High Courts

The Supreme Court of India refused to hear a batch of contempt petitions on July 16, 2026, alleging that government authorities violated a November 2024 judgment prohibiting punitive demolitions, commonly referred to as bulldozer justice. A three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, ruled that the petitions involved complex factual disputes—including whether properties were legal constructions or public land encroachments—that could not be adjudicated within contempt jurisdiction.

The court transferred the proceedings' records to the respective state High Courts and requested that the matters be decided preferably within four months. To protect affected properties during this period, the court ordered that previously granted interim protections remain in effect, though parties may seek modifications to these orders through the High Courts.

During the hearing, advocates raised specific concerns regarding the demolition of mosques in Gujarat and allegedly politically motivated actions in Maharashtra. Justice Joymalya Bagchi clarified that the 2024 guidelines do not provide blanket protection for illegal constructions, stating that bulldozers must still be used when the rule of law is throttled by corruption and illegal encroachments. However, he noted that law should not be used as a guise to characterize individuals.