In India, the term “extrajudicial” is normally associated with unlawful killings by the police in staged encounters, but in recent years, it has become exceedingly relevant for another state-sanctioned violation of human-rights and rule of law: bulldozer demolitions. Extrajudicial refer to actions taken in contravention of the due process of law and without judicial sanction. The crucial aspect of extrajudicial actions lies in the bypassing of established legal frameworks designed to ensure accountability and justice. While judicially sanctioned demolition drives can also be contested as violation of human rights, within The Demolitions Project, we will be focusing on extrajudicial demolitions, which tend to be inherently punitive in nature. The Demolitions Project will explore the implications and illegalities of extrajudicial and punitive demolitions actions. It will focus on the disproportionately impact on marginalised populations, and the mechanisms by which the state continues to operate with impunity and complete disregard for due…

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