India, March 26 -- The Supreme Court Monday again highlighted the importance of due process in the execution of orders regarding demolition of constructions that violate municipal building laws. The court expressed shock at authorities bulldozing houses in Prayagraj in March 2021 within 24 hours of notifying the occupants that their homes stood on land linked (erroneously) to gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed. Last November, the apex court, faced with an avalanche of complaints of state-directed demolitions, issued guidelines to municipal authorities. It held that arbitrary action in a case heard by a court subverted the latter's authority; the authorities were assuming an adjudicatory role to determine the guilt of an accused and even punish him. It held that the demolition orders violated the principle of natural justice, citizens' right to shelter, and inflicted collective punishment on the family of the accused. The court said the authorities must issue a show-cause notice with a 15-day notice period for the accused to respond before demolishing the alleged illegal structure. Action that ignores the guidelines would be deemed contempt of court. Some administrations have deliberately ignored the court's directives. On Monday, the apex court issued a notice to the Malvan municipal council for razing the shop and home of a person accused of raising anti-India slogans during an India-Pakistan cricket match. The Nagpur civic body demolished the residence of a person accused of instigating a riot last week before the high court stayed the action....