The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved judgment on pleas challenging demolition of properties. The court said it will lay down guidelines and safeguards for demolitions which would be applied to all communities across the country.

The apex court said it will make it clear that merely because a person is an accused or even a convict, it cannot be a ground for the demolition of a property.

“Whatever we are laying down, we are a secular country. We are laying it down for all the citizens, for all the institutions not for any particular community,” a bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan said.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta cautioned that for an injustice meted out to few, others should not get undue advantage

The top court observed that it would not come in the way of demolition action against encroachers on public land, footpaths, even if it is a religious structure. The court added that demolitions should only be done if there is a violation of municipal laws, only after notice and due hearing.

“We will take care to ensure that our order does not help the encroachers on any of the public places,” the bench said.

The top court was hearing arguments on a batch of pleas which have alleged that properties, including of those accused of crime, were being demolished in several states.

The apex court had on September 17 said there will be no demolition of properties, including of those accused of crime, till October 1 without its permission.