AJAY JHA Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This matter has been taken up for hearing online because of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

(2.) The petitioner has challenged in the present writ application filed under Art. 226 of the Constitution of India, an order dated 26/07/2017 issued by the Dy. CE/Con/G/Hq, Eastern Railway, Kolkata, whereby his claim for appointment in Railways on the ground of acquisition of land belonging to him for a Railway Project has been rejected.

(3.) It is the petitioner's case as stated in the writ application that a piece of land, belonging to the petitioner in Mouza Sikandarpur, PS Bounsi, Thana No. 438, appertaing to Khata No. 171 (Old) Khesra No. 2164 (Old) admeasuring 0.35 decimal had been acquired for construction of Mandar Hill to Rampur Halt Railway Line. Acquisition of the said land, according to the petitioner, has taken away his livelihood. According to him, the respondents had assured the villagers that one person of each of the families displaced consequent upon the said acquisition of land will be provided job in the railway in addition to the suitable compensation awarded to them. It is also his case that even Minister of the State for Railways Government of India had made an announcement to the effect that one person of each the families whose land has been acquired by the said Project shall be provided employment in the Railway. The petitioner has relied on news items published in local daily in the year 2000-02 in support of this averment.