Begumpet Railway wall: HC orders SCR to review domestic workers’ access plea
HYDERABAD: In an interim order, the Telangana High Court directed South Central Railway (SCR) authorities to review representations from nearly 1,000 women domestic workers whose pedestrian access near Begumpet station was blocked by a new boundary wall.
Justice Nagesh Bheemapaka, hearing the writ petition, disposed of the matter with a direction to the SCR officials to examine the petitioners’ pleas and pass appropriate orders within two weeks.
According to the petitioners, over 1,000 domestic workers living in the LIG areas of Matajinagar and Brahmanwadi in Begumpet are facing a severe crisis. They reside north of the Begumpet railway track but serve more than 2,500 households in Methodist Colony, Umanagar, and Kundanbagh, located south of the tracks.
Railway authorities constructed a wall to block access across the tracks, reportedly to reduce accidents. As a result, domestic workers must now take a longer route from Begumpet station and along the adjacent road, increasing their commute by about 2 kilometers. Auto rickshaw fares for this route are Rs 50-60 per trip. The remaining small access point is also being closed.
The petitioners, Bakka Rajini, K. Aruna, and Jogu Lalita, all domestic workers, approached the court stating that they and nearly 1,000 other women residing in Matajinagar and Brahmanwadi, Begumpet, had been using the pedestrian access across the railway tracks for over 30 years to reach their workplaces in the Methodist Colony, Umanagar, and Kundanbagh areas.
Their counsel, Vellanki Krishna, argued that the access had been used openly and uninterrupted for three decades with the knowledge of the railway authorities. The sudden construction of the boundary wall without notice, consultation, or an alternative route has severely impacted these women’s livelihoods.
“The petitioners are now compelled to take a longer route of nearly two kilometres and incur extra transportation expenses. Several affected women have already lost employment or suffered reduced income,” counsel informed the court.
However, PNV Mahalakshmi, Standing Counsel for the Central Government representing the SCR railway, defended the action, stating that the location is a busy railway section with about 100 trains passing daily in both directions at speeds of up to 110 kmph.
She submitted that the unauthorized crossing of railway tracks at non-designated places poses a serious risk to human life and affects safe train operations. “Under the provisions of the Railways Act, 1989, trespassing and crossing at non-permitted locations is prohibited,” she argued.
The counsel emphasized that the boundary wall is a genuine safety measure implemented to protect public safety and ensure safe railway operations, aiming to prevent accidents and loss of life.
After hearing both sides, Justice Bheemapaka noted that the petitioners’ main concern is the hardship caused by the closure of pedestrian access and the lack of response to their representations, while the respondents maintain that the wall was built as a safety measure in line with statutory requirements.
“Without expressing any opinion on the merits of the rival contentions and having regard to the limited relief that can be granted at this stage, this Court is of the view that the ends of justice would be met by directing the respondent authorities to consider and dispose of the aforesaid representations,” the order read.
The court directed the authorities to pass appropriate orders in accordance with the law within two weeks of receipt of a copy of the order. No costs were imposed.
The petitioners had sought a writ of mandamus declaring the railway authorities’ actions as illegal, arbitrary, and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India.
