The judicial pause mandates an absolute cessation of all earth-moving and demolition activities by municipal authorities
NEW DELHI — The Supreme Court has ordered a status quo, halting the proposed demolition of 25 Muslim-owned houses in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, after a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant intervened following an appeal from the affected residents.
The bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana granted the relief on Friday after advocate Nizam Pasha, representing the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) on behalf of the petitioners, sought the court’s urgent intervention following a directive from the Jabalpur Bench of the high court to demolish the houses.
According to APCR, its legal team moved the Supreme Court on an urgent basis, preparing and filing a Special Leave Petition within a day under the court’s emergency filing procedure.
The case has been registered as Kamrun Nisha & Others vs. Municipal Corporation, Khandwa & Others (Diary No. 45938/2026).
The top court ordered: “List on August 3, 2026. Till then, status quo re: demolition be maintained.” The order has effectively put the proposed demolition of all 25 houses on hold for the time being.
This judicial pause mandates an absolute cessation of all earth-moving and demolition activities by municipal authorities, preserving the status quo while the court demands verifiable documentation justifying the eviction notices.
APCR said the petition was prepared and argued by its legal team comprising Advocates Pasha, Ahmad Ibrahim, Kabeer Paul and Awstika Das, along with Advocate-on-Record Lzafeer Ahmed BF.
The organisation said it would continue to represent the affected families before the Supreme Court and seek appropriate relief
