IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATES OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CWP No.6316 of 2009 Date of decision: April 27, 2009. Jagjit Singh ...Petitioner(s) v. State of Punjab & Ors. ...Respondent(s) CORAM:HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURYA KANT 1. Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment ? 2. Whether to be referred to the Reporters or not ? 3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest? Present: Shri Sandeep Sharma, Advocate for the petitioner. ORDER Surya Kant, J. - (Oral): The petitioners seek a direction to the respondent-railway authorities not to lay down the shunting railway line adjoining to their houses along the Nakodar railway track in the area of Sant Nagar, Jalandhar. The petitioners' grievance is that the shunting railway line is sought to be laid hardly at a distance of 5-7 feet away from their houses and would, therefore, endanger heir lives and properties. It is also the petitioners' case that in view of paragraph 3728 of the Indian Railways Way and Works Manual read with Section 24 of the Railways Act, it is imperative upon to leave an open space of approximately 30 meters (100 feet) between the railway boundary and the nearest edge of a building constructed on an adjacent land. However, overlooking their own guidelines, the subject railway line is allegedly being laid. The petitioners have also relied upon a site plan as well as certain photographs in support of their contention. Alternatively, it is urged that the shunting railway line can be shifted on the other side of the main railway track as there is no residential house on that side. The petitioners are stated to have represented the railway authorities time and again including vide representation dated 10.4.2009 (Annexure P-3). However, their objections have gone unheard. Having heard Learned Counsel for the Petitioners and considering the nature of relief sought in this writ petition, I am of the considered view that though this Court is not equipped with the expertise to decide as to whether or not the shunting railway line should be laid down by the railway authorities at the proposed site as such like issues fall exclusively within the domain of the experts in the railways. However, it appears, prima-facie, that the petitioners' objections require due consideration by the authorities. The writ petition is accordingly disposed of with a direction to the Divisional Railway Manager, Northern Region, Ferozepur Division at Ferozepur and Chief Engineer, Construction of the Railways at Ferozepur to consider the petitioners' objections and take an appropriate decision in accordance with their own guidelines and law. The needful shall be done within a period of one month from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order. Dasti. April 27, 2009. [ Surya Kant ] kadyan Judge