Supreme Court issues contempt notice to Assam govt over demolitions

As bulldozer action continues in Assam, the Supreme Court of India today issued a contempt notice to the state government after 47 residents filed a petition against the state government alleging violations of the top court's order that halted bulldozer action till October 1. The residents of the Sonapur area had moved the Supreme Court on September 28 alleging willful violation of the top court's interim order.

Supreme Court directed the state to maintain the status quo on the Sonapur demolitions drive and issued notice to authorities concerned to contempt petition alleging wilful violation of the court's interim order dated September 17, directing that no demolition should take place across the country without prior permission.

A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan instructed the state to submit a response within three weeks and ordered that the status quo be maintained until the next hearing.