HC dismisses plea opposing Thanjavur – Pattukkottai BG line

CHENNAI: The first bench of Madras HC comprising Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and G Chandrasekharan dismissed a petition filed for restraining the Indian Railways department from implementing the Thanjavur – Pattukottai broad-gauge railway line project.

The judges dismissed the petition on the ground that the railway department had not finalized the approval.

The bench passed the direction on disposing of a petition filed by Joint Action Committee Farmers Forum, Thanjavur – Orathanadu Taluks.

The petitioner sought direction to Indian Railways to drop the BG line from Orathanadu to Thanjavur in the newly selected area by considering the reminder representation. The petitioner association informed that the project would affect the agricultural lands.

However, the Indian Railways’ standing counsel submitted that the matter is pending consideration before the railway board for approval of the layout and accordingly, it is yet to be finalised for laying a broad-gauge railway line.

“Given the submission made by the counsel for the railways, we find this writ petition to be premature at this stage and is dismissed accordingly, ” the CJ held.

The court also granted liberty to the petitioners that if the final layout plan affects the petitioner or the public at large, they can file a fresh petition at that stage.