Encroachment ‘sad reality’ for 75 yrs: SC allows Railways to proceed with demolition

The Supreme Court Thursday allowed the Railways to proceed with the eviction of unauthorised settlements on its land earmarked for the proposed Surat-Jalna route, but not before pulling it up for failing to prevent encroachment despite maintaining a Railway Protection Force and having a special enactment that enables it to do so.

A bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar said that the Railways may immediately issue notices to occupants of illegal structures and give them two weeks to vacate the premises. For structures that do not require to be vacated immediately, four weeks may be given, said the bench that also comprised Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and C T Ravikumar.