Desk Correspondent , New Delhi - The Supreme Court of India on Monday declined to intervene in the ongoing demolition drive against unauthorized constructions in Gurugram, directing petitioners to instead approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi disposed of the plea but granted the residents liberty to make an urgent mentioning before the High Court later today. SC emphasized that if the High Court is performing its constitutional duty to dismantle unauthorized structures, the Supreme Court should not act as a hindrance.

The legal challenge follows an April 2 interim order by the Punjab and Haryana High Court that stayed the Haryana government’s ‘stilt-plus-four floors’ building policy. Local authorities subsequently launched an anti-encroachment campaign, which petitioners argue is being carried out without issuing mandatory show-cause notices. Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing the residents, claimed the authorities are misconstruing the High Court’s stay on policy to justify the demolition of what he described as "completely legal constructions" without due process.

The demolition drive was triggered by the High Court's observation that the state's building policy appeared to prioritize revenue over public safety. While the petitioners requested a status quo for three to four days to allow for a formal appeal at the state level, the Supreme Court maintained that the High Court is the appropriate forum to clarify if its orders are being misinterpreted. The High Court has been requested to hear the petitioners' urgent mentioning as early as Monday afternoon to address the immediate threat of property destruction.