Rajasthan HC stops officials from razing homes of rape-blackmail accused

JAIPUR/AJMER: Rajasthan high court barred

Bijaynagar Municipality

in Beawar on Thursday from bulldozing properties linked to suspects in the gangrape and blackmail cases involving five schoolgirls, taking cognisance of allegations that the state govt was "hell-bent" on demolitions in contravention of

Supreme Court guidelines

.
Justice Mahendar Goyal's order to maintain status quo came on a petition filed by five people who received demolition notices issued on Feb 20 for alleged violations under sections 194 and 245 of the Rajasthan Municipality Act.
Syed Saadat Ali, counsel for the petitioners, accused the administration of overlooking responses to the demolition notices.
Ali cited SC guidelines mandating inspections before any demolition and a signed endorsement of any such action by two elected representatives. These safeguards are meant to ensure that "only unauthorised and non-compoundable constructions are targeted", he said.

The court directed the lawyer to provide a copy of the writ petition to additional advocate general GS Gill and scheduled the next hearing for March 11.
Eleven suspects have been arrested and three juveniles detained since three FIRs were registered on Feb 16, based on complaints by the families of the schoolgirls.