The Patna High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Om Prakash Gupta, challenging the alignment of the Sitamarhi-Sheohar New Railway line construction.
The petitioner had sought three reliefs, including the quashing of a response under the Right to Information Act, 2005, and the setting aside of a reply furnished by the Office of Deputy Chief Engineer, Construction, East Central Railway, Narkatiyaganj.
The petitioner had also prayed for the railway line construction to be made in conformity with the surveyed land report, minimizing urban, social, residential, and commercial dislocation.
However, the bench of Chief Justice K Vinod Chandran and Justice Partha Sarthy observed that the petitioner ought not to have filed a further PIL on the same issue, as a similar prayer had been made by another person in a previous PIL.
The court also noted that the alignment of the railway line depends on various factors and cannot be solely based on the survey report of the Circle Officer.
The court dismissed the PIL, finding no reason to entertain it and respectfully following the earlier judgment.
The court held that it would not interfere in policy matters, and the alignment of the railway line is a matter within the executive domain.