BANGALORE: The High Court on Wednesday came down heavily on the Railways as it did not produce records on an under-bridge constructed in front of former railway minister C K Jaffer Sharieff’s residence. Justice Ram Mohan Reddy was hearing a petition filed last year by Dr C J Rajesh, against the railway authorities, for not installing a manned gate to the railway bridge which runs through Sharieff’s property.
The court had sought the details last week but railway authorities on Wednesday said the records related to the under-bridge had been destroyed as they were more than 10 years old.
The petitioner has been fighting for his right of safe passage in his property since 2004. His family owns Shivashaila Education Trust which manages four temples, a school, a college and a school auditorium. Rajesh’s contention is that a railway line passes through the said property.
As river Lokapavani flows through the plot, the Railway authorities had constructed the bridge. He said the authorities had provided a manned gate for locals’ safety while constructing the bridge. However, the bridge was closed later on the ground that there was zero rail traffic.
Rajesh said since the gate has been closed, it has been inconvenient for people to enter the area. “The department constructed the said bridge for a minister and why have they closed it for a property where education institutions are run?” observed Justice Reddy and adjourned the case to Friday.
Belekeri Case to Green Tribunal
A Division Bench, comprising N Kumar and B Manohar, transferred a petition related to pollution and ecological imbalances due to Belekeri iron mining to National Green Tribunal.
A group of petitioners, including Uttara Kannada District Consumers Welfare Association, had filed a petition in this regard.