The Court issued the direction after counsel appearing for the respondents requested the Bench to take up the matter tomorrow. Earlier, on March 8, the MCD had demolished certain “illegal portions” of a house allegedly linked to one of the accused in the murder of 26-year-old Tarun Bhutolia during Holi celebrations on March 4.
The accused persons belong to the Muslim community, while the victim is Hindu, and the incident has since taken on a communal colour.
The Couert was hearing petitions filed by Shahnaz and Jarina seeking protection from the demolition of their homes.
Shahnaz is the mother of Sohel and Ayan, who have been interrogated by the police in the case, while Jarina is the mother of co-accused Imran alias Banti.
They have contended that the MCD carried out an arbitrary demolition drive immediately after the FIR was registered and apprehend that their houses may also be demolished as a punitive measure merely because they have been implicated in the criminal case.
"It is pertinent to note that the house in question [which has been demolished] was not built upon any public road or encroached government land, and several other houses exist in the same vicinity.'' said Jarina in her plea.
She added that the proposed demolition would violate the principles of natural justice, as well as the constitutional protections guaranteed under Articles 14, 21 and 300A of the Constitution, and would also be contrary to the directions issued by the Supreme Court.
The petitions were filed through advocate Divyesh Pratap Singh.
