New Delhi: The Supreme Court stated on Friday that if it determines that officials in Gujarat disregarded its order regarding property demolitions, it will require them to restore the demolished structures.

A bench consisting of Justices B R Gavai and K. V. Viswanathan was examining a request for contempt proceedings over an alleged violation of the court's order from September 17, which prohibited any demolitions of properties, including those linked to criminal accusations, without prior permission from the court.

Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, representing the petitioner Summast Patni Muslim Jamat, claimed that Gujarat authorities proceeded with demolitions despite the Supreme Court's directive.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Gujarat government, responded by stating that the demolished structures were located near the sea and approximately 340 metres away from the Somnath temple. "This falls within the exception carved out by your lordships," the top law officer said.

In its order last month, the SC had said, "We further clarify that our order would not be applicable if there is an unauthorised structure in any public place such as road, street, footpath, abutting railway line or any river body or water bodies and also, to cases where there is an order for demolition made by a court of law".

During the hearing on Friday, the bench observed, "If we find that they are in contempt of our order, not only we will be sending them to jail but we will ask them to restore all this."

The bench did not issue a notice regarding the petition but requested Mehta to submit a response. The case has been scheduled for further hearing on October 16.

Agency