India's top court has said that authorities cannot demolish homes merely because a person has been accused of a crime and has laid down strict guidelines for any such action. The ruling comes in response to a bunch of pleas seeking action against authorities using demolition as a punitive measure against those accused or convicted of crimes.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday laid down pan-India guidelines to prevent arbitrary demolitions of properties in the country. and stated that it is not a happy sight to see women, children and ailing persons dragged to the streets overnight.

The Supreme Court of India condemns arbitrary bulldozer demolitions, affirming constitutional rights and the need for due process in property matters.- Watch Video on English Oneindia

The Supreme Court said demolishing the house of an accused amounted to collective punishment on all family members

The demolition of a house solely because the person residing there is either an accused or convicted in a criminal case will amount to inflicting "collective punishment" on the entire family, the Supreme Court said on Wednesday.

India's ruling Hindu nationalist government is accused by rights groups and critics of ordering demolitions of properties belonging to Muslims as "punishment" following communal clashes or protests.India' s Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that the government cannot order the demolition of property belonging to people accused of crimes

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The Supreme Court will announce guidelines for a national property demolition drive, known as 'bulldozer justice', on Wednesday. The bench has reserved the order after hearings on October 1

The Supreme Court will decide on the issue of framing a pan-India guidelines to regulate “bulldozer” action by authorities.