The Supreme Court on Monday declined to urgently list a plea seeking protection against the demolition of a property, with Chief Justice of India Surya Kant refusing to entertain the matter directly and reiterating that litigants should first approach the jurisdictional High Court.

Seeking a same-day listing, the petitioner's counsel submitted that the authorities were proceeding with the demolition despite the existence of a sanctioned building plan. The counsel argued that while the authorities alleged that the construction had come up in a pond area, the building had been raised pursuant to a duly sanctioned plan.

The CJI, however, refused to grant an urgent hearing or pass any interim protection.

"Even if it is completed dismantled today, I will not...," the Chief Justice remarked, making it clear that the Supreme Court would not entertain the matter in the first instance.

The Bench directed the petitioner to avail the remedy before the concerned High Court.

The Chief Justice also deprecated the increasing tendency of litigants to bypass High Courts and directly approach the Supreme Court for urgent relief.