(MOREPIC1)Subhash Jindal / Chandigarh:
A Division Bench of the Hon’ble Punjab and Haryana High Court comprising Hon’ble the Chief Justice Mr. Sheel Nagu and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sanjiv Berry has disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Ms. Sunaina, Advocate, who appeared as petitioner in person, concerning the dangerously dilapidated condition of the Government Railway Police (GRP) Police Station and staff residential quarters at Chandigarh Railway Station.
The PIL instituted by Ms. Sunaina highlighted that the GRP Police Station building, a British-era structure, has never undergone substantial repair or modernization and continues to remain in a hazardous condition despite a multi-crore railway station redevelopment project being executed at the same premises. Ms. Sunaina placed on record photographs, news reports, and written complaints showing leaking roofs, cracked and collapsing walls, exposed electrical wiring, unsecured malkhana windows, lack of a boundary wall leading to escape of accused persons, and absence of potable water and basic sanitation facilities.
(SUBHEAD)During the course of hearing, Mr. Satya Pal Jain, learned Additional Solicitor General of India, appearing on behalf of the Union of India and the Ministry of Railways, assured the Hon’ble Court that the concerned Railway authorities would undertake repair, renovation, and upgradation of the GRP Police Station building, which is presently in a bad and unsafe condition.
Recording the assurance given to the Court, the Hon’ble Division Bench disposed of the PIL and granted a period of two months to the concerned authorities to carry out the necessary repair, renovation, and upgradation work. The Court further granted liberty to Ms. Sunaina, petitioner in person, to approach the Court again in case the authorities fail to take effective steps within the stipulated time.
The Hon’ble Court clarified that if no meaningful action is taken within two months, Ms. Sunaina would be at liberty to file an appropriate petition to inform the Court that the assurance given has not been complied with and that no repair or renovation work has been undertaken.
The PIL filed by Ms. Sunaina raised issues of public safety, dignity of police personnel, and violation of Article 21 of the Constitution of India, emphasizing that denial of basic infrastructure to law-enforcement agencies stationed at major public transport hubs directly impacts public interest and rule of law.