Chhattisgarh High Court Takes Suo Moto Cognizance Of Dilapidated Road Adjacent To Railway Station; Directs Divisional Railway Manager To File Personal Affidavit

The Court initiated a suo moto PIL based on news reports highlighting the big potholes on the road, which force people who are travelling to risk their lives. The issue was taken up by the Court following the news article published in Navbharat and Haribhoomi newspapers on January 17, 2025, reporting how the roads turn into a pond during the rains.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal ordered, “Registry is directed to tag the aforesaid News item also along with the present case…Looking to the above facts and situation, it would be appropriate to direct the Respondent No.5 / Divisional Railway Manager to file his personal affidavit with regard to the above two news items.”

Brief Facts

The news reports state that the road adjacent to the Bilaspur Railway Station had become a menace for the people of Bilaspur as its condition was “very pathetic.” It was reported that the local people had often approached the railway authorities, but they had turned deaf ears. Therefore, the commuters on that road as well as the residents living around the road were “forced to live amidst dust.”

It was reported that the road from Gajra Chowk to Sharda Mandir near Bilaspur Railway Station had also completely collapsed. “The big potholes visible from one end to the other on this road are screaming and telling the story of their plight. While the said road had turned into a pond during the rains, at present the dust flying behind the vehicles is disrupting the daily life. The condition is such that 24 hours a day people are reaching the city or the Railway Station through this dusty road,” the Court noted.

“There are not just one but countless big potholes on this road due to which people are forced to travel on this road risking their lives because not only the people of Nayapara but also the villagers of dozens of villages including Kormi, Basiya, Hardikala Tona have to travel on this road,” it reported.

For the last two years, the news item highlighted that the roads had been damaged by the rain, but no one was paying any attention to the problems of the people. Similarly, other roads in the Railway area were also in the same condition and were slowly deteriorating.

“The asphalt has been torn to pieces which is making the journey difficult for the people. These are the only two roads to reach the Railway Station from the rural areas including Sirgitti, but people avoid coming on this route. It has become a compulsion for the people to use these two dilapidated roads,” the news item said.

Court’s Directions

The Bench noted, “Besides the present case, another news item has been published in Daily News Paper, Haribhoomi…regarding the inconvenience which is being caused to the passengers, who are coming to Bilaspur Railway Station, whereby in the Platform No.1, the Goods Trains are being allowed to pass whereas the Passenger Trains are being sent to other Platforms i.e. Platform No.2 to 5.”

Consequently, the Court directed the Divisional Railway Manager to file a personal affidavit addressing the issues reported in the news items.

Accordingly, the High Court listed the matter for hearing on 29th January, 2025.

Cause Title: In the matter of Suo Moto Public Interest Litigation v. Union of India & Ors. (WPPIL No. 12 of 2025)

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