Bhopal: A single judge bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court has issued notices to the state government over razing a Muslim trader’s shop in Khargone town. The shop was razed as a punitive action after violence broke out during Ram Navami on April 10.
The Indore bench issued notice on the petition filed by the Khargone-based trader, Zahid Ali. The petitioner demanded a judicial probe against “arbitrary and illegal action” of the government and the local administration. While seeking compensation for the demolished property and its reconstruction, Mr Ali also sought punitive action against officers who “acted extrajudicial”.
Seeking a reply within two weeks, the court issued notices on June 9 to the state government, home department, Khargone district administration and the police, apart from the chief municipal.
Mr Ali’s lawyer, MM Bohra, said that the petitioner’s shop was his only source of income. A team of local authorities bulldozed it just a day after the communal violence in Khargone.
“No notices were issued or any opportunity of hearing was given before the demolition. The petitioner was not even an accused or involved in the incident of causing riots. The petition was filed against the administration for being judge and jury in itself in taking a decision in a vendetta against the petitioners being members of a minority community without reasonability and rationality.” NDTV quoted Mr Bohra as saying.
