Can’t implement ‘impossible’ HC orders: Railways

Justifying the non-implementation of some high court (HC) orders such as providing a doctor at every railway station, Central Railway (CR) said they were “practically impossible” to execute, reports HT Correspondent.

Justifying the non-implementation of some high court (HC) orders such as providing a doctor at every railway station, Central Railway (CR) said they were “practically impossible” to execute.

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This was stated in an affidavit filed by Atul Rane, senior divisional commercial manager of the Central Railway, on Friday.

The affidavit said the CR has challenged these HC orders in the Supreme Court. There is also a high court-appointed committee that meets every two months to monitor compliance of its orders, it added.

The affidavit is, however, silent on the incident reported by Hindustan Times in which Kunal Yadav, who was injured in a rail accident in 2008, was left lying on Goregaon railway platform for 45 minutes begging to be taken to a hospital.

“Neither specific details of the incident are given nor a copy of Hindustan Times report dated February 25, 2008. In the absence of lack of particulars, no comments are offered,” said the affidavit.

Meena Sekhar, senior divisional officer of the Western Railway, also filed an affidavit on Friday saying it has started the Anmol Jeevan campaign, along with the Railway Protection Force, scouts and local schools to spread awareness among commuters about not crossing tracks and travelling on foot boards.

Both affidavits were filed in reply to a contempt petition filed by Samir Zaveri — who lost both his legs in a railway accident — against the rail authorities in November alleging that they have miserably failed to ensure safety of their commuters and implement orders of the high court.

In its affidavit, the CR blamed anti-social elements for breaking boundary walls outside stations and tracks.

It also justified the removal of fencing between tracks as it could endanger the safety of the railway staff such as sweepers, pathway inspectors, signalmen and overhead wire maintenance staff.

“They could get stranded between a train and fencing and it could become death trap for them,” said the affidavit.