In an attempt to teach a lesson to the Indian Railways that allegedly has not paid compensation to two farmers, the Davangere district court “confiscated” a train for more than an hour on Monday morning.
According to The Times of India report the Mysuru-bound Hubbali-Bengaluru Intercity Express was stopped for over an hour at Harihar station at around 8 am after senior divisional magistrate Subhash Bandu Hoskale's order.
The train, which was carrying hundreds of passengers, was reportedly stopped with the help of police for more than an hour and a half, reported The New Indian Express.
It was allowed leave the station only after the officials gave a written assurance to the court that compensation would be given to the farmers in a week’s time.
AG Shivakumar and Mallesh had lost their land to a railway project. The railway authorities have to pay the duo a compensation of Rs 38 lakhs.
According to Public TV report, 25 years ago railways had acquired land in a 100 km stretch between Chitradurga and Rayadurga to lay tracks. Over a hundred farmers are yet to receive compensation.
This is the second time a train is being confiscated by court in 2016.
The Chitradurga District Principal and Sessions Court ordered seizure of the Harihar–Chitradurga–Bengaluru Passenger after Indian Railways failed to pay Rs 1 crore as compensation to 50 farmers whose land was acquired for a project.
Under the mandatory compensation laws, any person, whose land has been acquired can demand the compensation however, cannot contest the acquisition itself.
According to the TNIE report the Davanagere court in 2015 ruled that the Indian Railways must compensate the famers within two months. However, since nothing happened, the two farmers had to approach the court again.