Supreme Court Declines To Halt Bulldozer Action In Somnath Amid Petition

The Supreme Court refused to order a status quo on a petition by the Muslim community challenging bulldozer action in Gir-Somnath, Gujarat. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Gujarat government, stated that officials had cleared illegal constructions on government land. He assured the court that the land would remain under government possession and not be given to any third party.

Gujarat High Court Cases to Continue Unaffected

The bench, led by Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Vishwanathan, clarified that Supreme Court proceedings would not impact related cases pending in the Gujarat High Court. They allowed the High Court cases to proceed. The Supreme Court found no need for an interim order, as Mehta assured that the land would stay under government control until further notice.

Claims of Demolition of Protected Monuments

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the petitioner, argued that the action affected protected monuments. He said officials demolished a dargah and several structures near Veraval’s Arabian Sea coast. Sibal called it contempt of court, as nine structures of the minority community were allegedly destroyed. Mehta countered, claiming the structures were on government land and did not include any protected monuments.

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