2 weeks Ago By Rosy Sequeira
MUMBAI: Bombay high court on Friday directed the State to inform of measures that Matunga police station will take to meet the threat to the safety and security of girl students on account of the use of the railway foot-over bridge (FoB) connecting the east and west sides of King Circle. “The security and safety of all the students, and that of girl students particularly in the area, require special measures to be taken..
., " said Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar. They also directed that before the affidavit is filed, it “shall be personally vetted by the police commissioner.
” The petition was filed by Gujarati Kelavani Mandal and Seva Mandal Education Society, which run a school and college for girls on R A Kidwai Road, Matunga (E) abutting the railway track. They challenged the construction of the FoB on the plot used as the Central Railway traction substation saying they face thefts and other harassment from anti-social elements and drug addicts, the FoB shall exacerbate the problem. “ The petitioner states that construction of this over bridge can cause safety and security problems to thousands of the girls studying in two educational institutions.
The area in the east from where people will cross over to the west is considered to be notorious for anti-social activities including theft, drug peddling and other forms of harassment. The petitioners further states that there is no reason to have this overbridge since it is away from both King Circle and Wadala stations which have their own foot bridges for crossing over,’’ the petition stated The judges frowned at the State's reply, sworn by the police inspector of Matunga police station, saying it was filed in general. State’s advocate Vikrant Parshurami said, “The closest beat chowki that there is is near the school.
. near petitioners’ institutes is at 450 metre which is one metre distance by way of a vehicle. By walking, it is 5 to 6 minutes.
” But the judges said this is not stated in the affidavit. “You are talking in general. Where are specific details about steps or measures taken by the local police so far as safety of these girl students is concerned? As you said there is a police chowky 450 m away.
Where are those details?” the CJ asked. He also asked Parshurami to apprise the police inspector “about the concerns of the Court.” In the order, the judges noted that the affidavit gives “general assertions” of steps and measures normally taken by any police station to maintain law and order situation and for effectively performing other duties.
There were “no specific details...
as to specific measures to be taken for ensuring the safety and security of girl students.” The judges, therefore, directed an additional affidavit to be filed giving details of security measures “which are in place or which the local police intends to put in place to ensure security and safety of girl students..
.” Informed that the FOB has already been constructed and it is open for the public to use, the CJ said, “We are not stopping.”.
