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Court declines to entertain PIL petitions against Salem division

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday paved the way for inauguration of the Salem railway division by refusing to entertain three public interest litigation petitions challenging the Railway Ministry’s decision to create the division after bifurcating the Palakkad division.

A Bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice R.V. Raveendran asked senior counsel K. Radhakrishnan and counsel Krishnan Venugopal, who appeared for the petitioners, “This is an administrative action. When th say the bifurcation is for better administration, how can the Supreme Court interfere in this matter?”

The Bench asked counsel: “Even if it is detrimental to Railways, can we interfere in policy matters based on administrative exigencies? Your Chief Minister is there. Ask your people’s representatives to take up the matter.”

The Bench said, “We can understand if it is shifting the Palakkad division to Salem. It is only a bifurcation and territorial adjustment. How can we say that Salem should not have a division? It may create some problem initially and you can take up the matter with the authorities.”

The Bench disposed of the petitions giving liberty to the petitioners to approach the appropriate authorities.

When counsel said “Rs.37.10 cr is to be spent for the creation of the Salem division,” the Bench remarked in lighter vein, “Democracy is a costly process.”

Mr. Radhakrishnan alleged that bifurcation of the Palakkad division was being taken up despite the parliamentary standing committee giving a report that it was not feasible.

The petitioners, Guruvayur Railway Development Action Council, Confederation of Marunadan Malayalee Associations and People’s Forum for Natural Justice (PFNJ) of Ottappalam in Kerala, assailed the decision to form the division.

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