Lawyer, bailiff hold up train at Mohali

Akash Ghai

Tribune News Service

Mohali, April 19

High drama was witnessed at the Mohali railway station this morning when a local advocate, along with a court bailiff, tried to prevent the Chandigarh-Amritsar Inter-City train from proceeding further, claiming that the train, along with the railway station, had been attached by a local court in a case of compensation pertaining to land acquisition.

The train arrived at the station at 7.20 am  and remained held up there till 9.15 am, causing inconvenience to hundreds of passengers.

“We have court orders in this regard. You cannot continue the journey of the train further,” the advocate told the driver, who came out of the locomotive, virtually clueless about what to do. Harassed passengers came out of their coaches to witness the drama. 

Several passengers, who had important work at their destinations, were seen arguing with the advocate. The court of Mohali Additional District and Sessions Judge passed the attachment order of the train in question as the railway authorities failed to pay the increased amount of compensation, totalling around Rs 1 crore, to the owners whose land was acquired by them. Earlier also, the local court had issued an order to attach the railway station and two trains, including the Chandigarh-Amritsar train, around two years ago.

Today, the advocate of the complainants reached the railway station to get "superdari" of the train. 

The court order, attaching the railway station and two trains, was pronounced on August 18. 

Zirakpur resident Bhushan Khurana, who was going to Amritsar, said several families, which were travelling along with children, were put to great distress. “How can a train, carrying hundreds of passengers, be stopped midway in this manner,” he said.

Another passenger, Vikas Nagpal, said it appeared that due procedure was not followed. “If the train was attached by the court, the parties concerned should have approached the railway authorities, who should have taken the requisite steps to deal with the matter,” he said.

The station master apprised senior officials of the matter. It was only after the green signal was given by higher-ups that the train was allowed to proceed. 

Several passengers threatened to move court against the advocate and the bailiff over their action, which caused inconvenience to them. 

The train, which was scheduled to reach Amritsar at 11.30 am, finally arrived there there around 1.30 pm. 

Passengers harassed

• The train arrived at the Mohali station at 7.20 am and remained held up there till 9.15 am, inconveniencing passengers.
• Several passengers, who had important work at their destinations, were seen arguing with the advocate and the bailiff.
• The station master apprised seniors of the matter. The train was allowed to proceed after a green signal from the higher-ups.