Daijiworld Media Network - Davanagere (SP)
Davanagere, Oct 25: Relating to the failure of railways to pay compensation to a farmer for the land acquired to lay railway tracks, train no 12726 - Dharwad Bengaluru intercity train was impounded as per court order on Monday October 24. The train, which was to stop for only five minutes at Harihara station, had to prolong its stop for 90 minutes before the railway officials executed an indemnity bond to remit the compensation within a week. Passengers, whose plans went for a toss, were seen cursing the railway officials for the delay.
A farmer from Harihara, Murkhal Shivakumar, had lost 1.16 acres of his land in Doggalli village for Harihara-Kottur railway line. The farmer had approached court for higher compensation in 2009, and the court had ordered the railways to pay additional amount of Rs 36 lac as compensation to the farmer.
As the railways failed to pay the money, Shivakumar reported the same to the court. At the instance of the court, officials provided train No. 12726 intercity express train as security for this payment. As the default in payment of compensation continued, Shivakumar approached the court, which, on October 18, ordered to impound the train and recover Rs 38.2 lac including interest payable to the farmer.
Advocate for the farmer along with court bailiffs stopped the train at Harihara as soon as the train arrived at Harihara at 7.45 am. Verbal exchanges ensured for about 90 minutes between officials, advocate, and court bailiffs. Understanding the seriousness of the matter, railway officials came on the scene, verified court order, and discussed the matter with higher officials. When they requested the concerned to allow the train to move forward, duly promising to complete formalities thereafter, Shivakumar and court staff stood their ground. As they demanded an indemnity bond for the amount pledging to pay the entire amount within a week before allowing the train to move, railway assistant engineer, L Vijay Prasad and station manager, B S Pyati, executed this bond addressed to the court. The train was thereafter allowed to move towards Bengaluru at around 9.30 am.