IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.7398 of 2009 NIL KAMAL SINGH Versus THE UNION OF INDIA & ORS WITH CWJC No.7457 of 2009 GEETA KUMARI Versus THE UNION OF INDIA & ORS WITH CWJC No.7233 of 2009 KALESHWAR PASWAN @ KAULESHWAR Versus THE UNION OF INDIA & ORS ----------- For the Petitioners: M/s Pushkar Shahi, Om Prakash Upadhyay, Mithilesh Upadhyay For the Railways : Mr.Chittarajan Sinha, Sr. Advocate Mr.Siddharth Prasad, Advocate 2 6.7.2009 As these writ petitions relate to common grievances regarding functioning of P.C.O. booth at Gaya Railway Station and as such they have been heard together and are being disposed of by this common order. In order to provide employment to the educated youth a scheme was floated to allot space to such youth for operating S.T.D./I.S.D./P.C.O. booth at Railway Platforms including Gaya Railway Station. The petitioners were selected for allotment of space of 5’x6’ for installation of STD/ISD/PCO booth for five years at yearly licence fee of Rs.1000/-. The petitioners performed their work to the satisfaction of all concerned. Counsel for the petitioners submits that after expiry of the licence, the petitioners approached the authorities who directed them to continue with the operation of their respective booths and as per their direction they have even deposited land fee @ Rs.1612/- each for - 2 - the financial year 2009-10 and in token thereof the authorities have granted receipt, as contained in Annexure-6, and since then they are continuing with the operation of the booths. Learned counsel further submits that all of a sudden the authorities without giving any notice have verbally asked the petitioners to stop the functioning of STD/ISD/PCO booth at the Railway platform. Learned counsel for the Railways submits that it is not disputed that the petitioners were granted licence for five years for running a S.T.D. booth at Gaya Railway platform on payment of licence fee and as the period has come to end, the authorities have asked them to stop the functioning of S.T.D./I.S.D./PCO booth at the Gaya Railway Platform. This court finds that the installation of telephone booth at the Railway station caters the need of common people. It appears that the petitioners on the direction of the authorities concerned deposited land fee of Rs.1612/- each for the financial year 2009-10 on 30.4.2009 and in token thereof the authorities have granted receipt, as contained in Annexure-6. The petitioners are aggrieved that without giving any notice and despite depositing land fee, they have been asked to stop the functioning their respective booths. The petitioners have filed their representation dated 25.12.2008 to the respondent authorities which was forwarded to the higher authorities as would be evident from Annexure-5 but the same has not been disposed of as yet. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, this - 3 - KHAN court is of the view that the respondent no.4 the Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, East Central Railway, Mughelsarai will dispose of the representation of the petitioners within four weeks from today. Till then, the functioning of STD/ISD/PCO booths of the petitioners would not be disturbed. (S.P.Singh,J)