HC asks railways to file affidavit on land acquisition

Patna, May 7 (UNI) Patna High Court today directed the railways to file an affidavit stating under what circumstances the land at Sonepur was acquired to set up wagon maintenance workshop when the land was earlier acquired near Barauni railway station in Begusarai district.

A division bench comprising justice Narain Roy and justice J N Singh passed the order while hearing the public interest petition filed in this connection.

Counsel of the petitioner informed the court that Railways had acquired the land for the wagon workshop near Barauni station and construction work was inaugurated by the then railway minister Ram Vilas Paswan in 1997.

The petitioner pointed out that there was no justification to acquire the land for same purpose at two places. Fertile arable lands of the farmers were being acquired at Sonepur causing miseries to them, the petitioner maintained.

UNI