The Kerala High Court recently dismissed a plea seeking a halt in the operation of the newly launched ‘Vande Bharat train’ at Tirur Railway station in Malappuram district.
While dismissing the petition, a division bench of Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas and Justice C Jayachandran stated that the halting points of a train are determined by the Railways and that no one has a vested right to demand which station a particular train should stop at.
“Moreover, like the petitioner, if every individual or public-spirited person in every district, starts clamoring or demanding a stop to be provided at a Railway Station of his/her choice, the purpose of setting up high-speed trains would itself be lost. Railway stops are not to be provided on demands based on personal or vested interests, especially for high-speed express trains like Vande Bharat train….we find no reason to entertain this writ petition and the same is dismissed in limine,” the bench stated.
The division bench was considering a plea filed by PT Sheejish, a practicing lawyer, who claimed that despite being a densely populated area with a high reliance on train service, no stop had been designated for Malappuram district.
The failure to allot a stop at Tirur Railway Station, according to the petitioner, is an injustice to the entire people of Malappuram, causing great prejudice by ignoring their requests and demands.
The court, however, dismissed the plea, stating that it cannot intervene in the matter of providing stops for railway trains because that is solely within the discretion and jurisdiction of the railways.
“The Courts cannot interfere in the matter of providing stops for railway trains, as that is a matter purely within the discretion and jurisdiction of the railways. Providing railway stop for the Vande Bharat train at Tirur, Malappuram is therefore not justiciable,” the order reads.
