Delhi High Court Calls For Finalized Plan On Construction Of Foot-Over Bridge For Rajputana Rifles Soldiers Compelled To Pass Through Drain

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday called for a fianlized plan from the city authorities on the construction of a foot-over bridge for soldiers of the Rajputana Rifles who have to pass through a filthy drain every morning while marching out of their barracks for heading towards the parade ground.

A division bench comprising Justice Prathiba M Singh and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora directed the Public Works Department(PWD), Delhi Cantonment Board and the traffic police to hold a joint meeting to consider an immediate solution of construction of the daily bridge for enabling the soldiers to cross the path.

The Court said that the Delhi Cantonment Board is free to avail services of any agency of the Army, if required.

“Let a plan be finalized for construction of the footover bridge and a report be submitted on the budget, design and timeline for construction,” the Bench said.

It added that the cost of construction of the footover bridge shall be borne by the PWD as the same was approved way back in 200 but has not been constructed yet.

The Bench was dealing with a suo motu case initiated after judicial note was taken of a newspaper report on the issue.

The Court took suo motu cognizance of the report published in Hindustan Times on May 26 titled “A smelly trail from barracks to grounds: Regiment's daily battle.”

It had said that the soldiers were required to pass through the “culvert” four times a day, the drain wS stated to be flooded and was slick with sludge and sometimes near waist- deep in places.

Today, the Court directed the authorities to ensure that there is no waterlogging in the culvert so that there is no impediment on the movement of the soldiers.

It further directed the authorities to regularly monitor the pumping out of water from the culvert.

While taking suo motu cognizance, the Court haf said that the newspaper report relating to the soldiers who have to march through this drain was indeed an “unacceptable situation.”

Title: COURT ON ITS OWN MOTION v. DELHI CONT