Calling demolitions in Uttar Pradesh “mockery of law”, a section of former Supreme Court and high court judges along with senior advocates have written an urgent appeal to the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of “recent incidents of violence and repression by state authorities on citizens in Uttar Pradesh.”

The letter came after Uttar Pradesh government bulldozed house of Welfare Party of India leader, Javed Mohammad, calling him the ‘mastermind’ of protest that took place on 10 June against derogatory remarks on Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) passed by now-suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma. Interestingly, notice was served to Javed Mohammad but the house belongs to his wife.

“Videos of young men in police custody being beaten with lathis, houses of protestors being demolished without notice or any cause of action, and protestors from the minority Muslim community being chased and beaten by the police, are circulating on social media, shaking the conscience of the nation,” the letter says.

“We hope and trust the Supreme Court will rise to the occasion and not let the citizens and the Constitution down at this critical juncture,” the letter stresses.