P.K.SATHEESAN Vs. SOUTHERN RAILWAY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Petitioner, who claims to be a social worker and a trade union leader, has filed the Instant public interest writ petition, for the following reliefs:

(2.) Short facts leading to the filing of instant writ petition are that,- petitioner was overwhelmed by the inhuman activities and human rights violations, thrust upon the cleaning workers at Shornur Junction of Railway. He was perturbed by unclean atmosphere in the railway station. According to him, manual scavenging is an activity banned by law. However, against the constitutional provisions of human quality and dignity, railway is employing workers especially women, to clean up human excreta piled upon the tracks.

(3.) Shornur railway station is the biggest railway station in Kerala, where trains, especially long distance trains, stop for more time to shift engine. Said railway station is having an area with six or seven tracks and several restaurants as well as eateries are situated therein. Petitioner has contended that all the tracks therein are filled with dirt and human excreta, and the food prepared there is served in a most unhealthy situation. People have no other way, but to eat the food, in the said atmosphere, which according to the petitioner, would cause outbreak of catastrophic epidemics.