India, Aug. 24 -- Chief Justice of India B R Gavai on Saturday said that the acts of several district administrations to unilaterally bulldoze the homes of those accused of crimes struck at the very core of the idea of rule of law and the constitutional concept of separation of powers.

Speaking at a felicitation function organised by the Goa High Court Bar Association, the Chief Justice said that it became incumbent upon the court to step in because the executive was giving itself the powers of a judge.

"Our Constitution recognises the separation of powers of the executive, judiciary and the legislature and if the executive itself is permitted to be a judge, then we will be hitting at the very concept of the separation of powers," Gavai...