HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH. *** CWP No. 11076 of 2008. *** Ajay Jagga, Advocate Vs. Union of India and others. *** CORAM: Hon'ble Mr. Justice T.S.Thakur, CJ and Hon'ble Mr. Justice Jasbir Singh. *** Present: Shri Ajay Jagga, Advocate, petitioner in person. Shri Jagdish Marwah, Advocate, for the respondents. *** T.S.Thakur, CJ (Oral) This petition has been filed in public interest. It prays for a mandamus directing the respondents to ensure that the entry and the exit points to the Chandigarh Railway Station are kept open to all the moving vehicles used by the passengers for entering or leaving the station. It also prays for a direction to respondents No.2 and 3 to ensure that the parking lot contractors do not charge parking fee from vehicles which are using the entry and the exit road for purposes of dropping and picking the passengers. A direction to the respondents to open the parking lot as well as the entry and exist point towards the Panchkula side of Chandigarh Railway Station, which has been illegally closed by the parking contractors has also been prayed for. In response to a notice of motion issued by this Court, the respondents have filed a counter affidavit in which it is inter alia stated that the existing parking area provided at the Chandigarh Railway Station is sufficient to accommodate number of cars coming into the Railway Station at peak hours in normal times. All the same, whenever there are VVIP movements, there is a lot of movement of cars on account of political and other reasons resulting in traffic congestion at the Railway Station. The -2- CWP No. 11076 of 2008. railway administration has, therefore, planned to increase the parking facilities by providing more parking space towards the main entry side of Chandigarh Railway Station. The Railway authorities have also planned to augment the present parking capacity in three phases out of which 75% of the work in Phase I has already been completed whereas expansion plans for phase II and III are in progress. The counter affidavit gives the details of the works that have already been undertaken and those that are proposed to be undertaken with a view to augmenting the parking facility for the benefit of the general public. It is submitted by Mr. Marwah, counsel appearing for the railway authorities that the latter have already addressed a communication dated 4.1.2008 to the Chief Engineer, U.T.Chandigarh for a joint survey of the existing parking area and census of trees so that permission for cutting of the trees wherever the same are essential is granted by the competent authority. The said communication was followed by another reminder dated February 26, 2008 addressed to the Chief Engineer. The Chief Engineer has, according to the counsel, not responded to the said communication so far, although a meeting was held some time back to discuss the issue. Similarly a request has been sent to the Manager, Haryana Forest Development Corporation, Ambala City by the Assistant Divisional Engineer, Northern Railway, Rajpura dated August 21, 2008 seeking permission to cut and remove certain trees that are growing in the area falling on the Haryana side of the Railway Station. No response, according to the counsel, has been received from the said officer, with the result that the proposed extension of the parking lot has got further delayed. Mr. Marwah submits that phase II and III works can be taken up by the railway administration immediately after the permission for the removal of the trees is granted and that a direction needs to be given to the authorities to expedite the said permission. -3- CWP No. 11076 of 2008. Mr. Jagga who appears in person submitted that while the railway administration appears to have taken some steps for extending the parking facilities they need to provide for a mechanism for redressal of complaints against the contractors or against any other railway official / officer associated with the railway station. He urged that at present there is neither any complaint box at the Railway Station nor any counter where an aggrieved citizen can lodge a complaint. He urged that this petition could be disposed of with appropriate directions on the subject, to the respondents to ensure that the proposed extension of the parking lot and improvement in the administration of the parking area through the instrumentality of the contractor appointed by the administration is expedited. The Railway Administration has, it is evident from the affidavit and the enclosed documents, already initiated action in the matter to provide better parking facilities at the railway station. This in our view is necessary in view of difficulties being faced by the commuters on account of congestion. All that needs to be done is to expedite the execution of the extension plans. The Forest and other authorities of the State of Haryana as also the U.T. Administration would do well to cooperate with that process and ensure that grant of permission is expedited to avoid any delay in the completion of the project. The Railway Administration shall in that regard be free to take up the matter with the concerned authorities for speedy disposal of the request made by them on the subject. The Railway Administration will also arrange the fixing of a complaint box, where any aggrieved person can submit his complaint against any railway officer or against the contractors employed by the Railways. Telephone numbers of the officer, who would be competent to receive the complaints can also be displayed at a conspicuous place including the complaint box and the board showing the parking rates to -4- CWP No. 11076 of 2008. help the aggrieved citizens. Beyond that we are at the moment not inclined to issue any direction except that the Railway Authorities would ensure that the public at large does not suffer inconvenience on account of lack of parking space at the Railway Station and also that the contractor does not extort money from the commuters, not legally recoverable from them. With these observations, this writ petition is disposed of. No costs. (T.S.Thakur) Chief Justice (Jasbir Singh) Judge December 02, 2008 Malik