Executive can't be judge & demolish properties'

Says SC while issuing pan India guidelines for demolition of properties; asks admin to provide 15-day time before taking down any structure

The Executive cannot become a judge, decide that an accused is guilty and punish him by demolishing his properties as such an act would be transgressing its limits, the Supreme Court said on Wednesday.

The apex court also observed it will be "totally unconstitutional" for more than one reason if a citizen's house is demolished merely because he is an accused or a convict, that too without following the due process as prescribed by law.

A bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan made these observations while delivering its judgment which laid down pan-India guidelines on demolition of properties.