Haryana
Nalhar Tehsil, Firozpur Jhirka Tehsil
,
Nuh
,
Nuh
Published :
May 2024
|
Updated :
At least 1,200 structures razed in 5-day Nuh demolition drive following Hindu-Muslim riots
Reported by
Sukriti Vats
Legal Review by
Anmol Gupta
Edited by
Anupa Kujur
443
Households affected
354
People affected
2023
Year started
29
Land area affected
443
Households affected
354
People Affected
2023
Year started
29
Land area affected
Key Insights
Sector
Land Use
Reason/Cause of conflict
Other Kind of Land Use
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Urban and Rural
Ended
Sector
Land Use
Reason/Cause of conflict
Other Kind of Land Use
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Urban and Rural
Ended
1
Summary

In the aftermath of the communal violence during a yatra in Nuh on 31 July 2023, the Haryana government in a five-day drive demolished several establishments (shops and houses) of Nuh residents, a majority of those affected belonged to the Muslim community, according to multiple media reports.
The reasons cited by the government in the court for demolishing the properties were that the structures were encroachments on government land or that they were unauthorised structures.
However, LCW investigation found that over 50 establishments with ‘title deeds’ and ‘settled possession’ were demolished during the drive and neither of them were constructed on ‘forest’ or ‘common' land as claimed by the government. This finding contradicted the government's claim.
Some of the residents also claimed that they were not served notices and that they didn't get enough time to take out their belongings.
In case of establishments violating building codes and regulations, the government is expected to follow a proper procedure by sending notices and giving enough time to the residents to appear and submit their stance.
According to the government affidavits, the dates of the notices served ranged from 2016 to as recent as 15 days before the demolition started. And say that the demolitions were carried out in coordination with “five departments/Public Authorities/ ULBs (Urban Local Bodies)”. 
The government drew criticism as media reports flagged how a majority of those affected due to the demolition drive belonged to the Muslim community. Among the 354 people who were affected due to the demolition drive, 283 were Muslims and 71 were Hindus. The district administration, however, denied targeting a particular community and maintained that due procedure was followed.
The demolition drive was halted only after the Punjab and Haryana High Court took suo motu cognisance of the demolition drive, terming it "ethnic cleansing", and observed that “buildings belonging to a particular community were being brought down under the guise of law and order problem”. In response, the Haryana government, replied in their affidavits on August 18 that it was a routine measure taken by “independent local authorities against the unauthorised occupiers or illegal structures and that too after following the due procedure of law”.
While the government affidavit states that 443 structures were demolished, of which 162 were permanent and the remaining 281 were temporary structures, a fact-finding report by Socio-Legal Information Centre, a non-profit legal aid and educational organisation, stated that 1,208 structures at 37 sites spanning 72.1 acres were razed down.
The report added that the demolitions were carried out in approximately 11 villages and tehsils.
In February 2024, two pleas were filed in the High Court against the 'unlawful' demolition of properties in Nuh. The lawyer representing the affected parties had requested the court to group them with the earlier case. They will now be heard together from March onwards.

2
Fact Sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Complaint against procedural violations

Demand for compensation

Demand for rehabilitation

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Region Classification

Urban and Rural

Type of Land

Common and Private

Forest and Non-Forest

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Government or community-regulated urban commons, Residential area

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

Total investment involved (in Crores):

Type of investment:

Year of Estimation

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

No

When did it end?

Why did the conflict end?

4
Additional Information

Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:

Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), Town and Country Planning Department, Haryana Police, Forest Department and local panchayats

PSUs Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?

Yes

Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached

Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?

Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:

Nuh residents

5
Information on the use of criminal law

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Legal Supporting Documents

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Author
Reported by
Sukriti Vats
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Fact sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Complaint against procedural violations

Demand for compensation

Demand for rehabilitation

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Government or community-regulated urban commons, Residential area

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

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