HC raps railway for objecting to toilet for slum on its land

Contempt plea moved against Northern Railway, DUSIB

The Delhi High Court on Friday rapped Northern Railway for objecting to setting up of pre-fabricated toilets on its land in west Delhi’s Shakur Basti for the people living in the slums there.

The High Court had earlier directed setting up toilets in the area.

Notices issued

“The court fails to appreciate the reluctance of the Northern Railway to implement the direction of May 12, 2017,” a Bench of Justices S. Muralidhar and Vibhu Bakhru said, while hearing a contempt plea moved by Congress leader Ajay Maken.

The Bench issued notices to Northern Railway and the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) seeking their stand on the plea seeking contempt action against them for not implementing the court order.

Four sites identified

The DUSIB, in its defence, told the court that it had identified four locations, in a joint inspection with officials of Northern Railway, for setting up the toilets.

It said that the railway was objecting to providing the pre-fabricated toilets to encroachers on its land.

The railway submitted that there were toilets near the Mansarovar Park flyover and added that as per its latest policy of August 9 regarding toilets for encroachers, only mobile toilets can be provided.

The Bench said that the toilets that the railway was referring to were in east Delhi while the slum was in west Delhi: “How will the people reach there? By taking a bus or a metro?”

It also did not approve of the railway’s latest policy decision, saying it appeared to be aimed at thwarting the order of the HC.

Two weeks time

The court directed Northern Railway to cooperate with DUSIB, which was directed to immediately install toilets at the sites near Shakur Basti and to finish the work within two weeks.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on October 13.