Southern Railway gets notice over encroachments

A public interest litigation petition filed by Prabakar of Madurai came up for hearing before a division bench of Justices N Kirubkaran and SS Sundar. The petitioner sought interim stay on flex boards and banners on railway station premises. According to him, some private parties have been misusing lands in possession of Southern Railway, which contribute significantly in income generation to the Indian railways.

The High Court had recently imposed a ban on erecting banners and hoardings at public places in State. However, the petitioner pointed out, hoardings welcoming political leaders and private parties were often seen on railway station premises, some temporary but sometimes even on a permanent basis. Besides this, wall graffiti advertising political parties have also become a common sight. These hoardings, banners and graffiti were placed without paying money as rent to the railways, alleged the petitioner, adding that many private parties were indulging in such unlawful activities, affecting passengers.

Raising these charges, the petitioner sought the intervention of the bench to order an interim stay on putting up hoardings and banners in railway premises. On hearing the petition, the bench raised a series of questions including whether Tamil Nadu Land Encroachment Act was applicable to the railway administration. It questioned on the extent of land and buildings owned by the railway that had been encroached upon and asked details on those who encroached such portions.

After questioning the action initiated by the authorities to remove such encroachments, the bench issued notice to the General Manager of Southern Railway seeking his response in this regard. The case was then adjourned to March 20.