Jahangir Puri demolition drive: no rule of law but law of rulers 

In a talk with Sanjay Hegde, as a part of the Visionary talk series by Kailashnath Adhikari. 

As a part of the Visionary Talk series, Kailashnath Adhikari, Managing Director (MD), Governance Now spoke to Sanjay Hegde, a senior Supreme Court advocate. The talk was on the topic of the recent happening, Jahangir Puri demolition drive.  

Jahangir Puri demolition drive: 

The advocate claimed that following the razing of homes and shops in the area, no rule of the law or procedure was followed. Even after the Supreme Court passed the order to stop the bulldozer from demolition, a written order was insisted before the bulldozing could be stopped.  

The Visionary Talk Series is held by a public policy and governance analysis platform. The SC advocate said that the incident of bulldozing, demolition of homes and shops, and the communal violence at Jahangir Puri is nothing less than a political war. 

The truth was revealed during the conversation. People who left the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) in the state of Uttar Pradesh faced a similar situation. Even their houses were bulldozed as they changed their minds to leave the party.  

Hijab Controversy: 

Sanjay Hegde did not limit to this as he also spoke about the Hijab Controversy. He is leading his voice for civil rights. He said that if any woman wants to cover her head, it is not the part of the government to restrict her. A government cannot say that if she wears something on her head, she cannot be educated at government expenses. A valid reason was given during the talk. That the government is funded by taxpayers’ money from all communities. 

Change in legal System: 

Stress on change in the structure of the legal system was put. With every matter, the people involved are more and more, in process. A system where no steps and processes are involved. But only the final matter is turned on to the justices and lawyers.  

A blend of online and physical courts: 

On a question about the comparison of physical and e-courts, the advocate said that e-courts were better than having no courts. And e-courts practice is here to stay. They are good for longer constitutional matters. It has made the access to justice or lawyers all over the country easier to a large extent.  At present, there is a hybrid system and it will be continuing. 

Published By – Chirag Agrawal

Edited By – Sonu M Kothari