India, March 25 -- The Supreme Court on Monday proposed an unprecedented recourse against arbitrary demolitions by permitting the reconstruction of houses in Prayagraj that were razed by Uttar Pradesh authorities reportedly without due process in March 2021 after the state wrongly linked the land to slain gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed.

A bench comprising justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan expressed shock at the state's conduct, highlighting that the homes were demolished within 24 hours of serving notices, depriving the occupants of any opportunity to challenge the action. The court made it clear that it "cannot tolerate such a process" and that permitting such actions in one case would set a dangerous precedent.

"It shocks the cons...