HP High Court Quashes Criminal Case Against Former Shimla MC Councillor in Railway Safety Dispute

Shimla, Feb 26: The Himachal Pradesh High Court has quashed criminal proceedings registered under Section 153 of the Railway Act against a former Municipal Corporation councillor from Ward No. 7, observing that there was no concrete evidence showing any threat to passenger safety. The case dated back to 2020 and was linked to a sewerage pipeline project between Taradevi and Jatog railway stations.

Justice Sandeep Sharma ruled that the petitioner’s role was limited to facilitating approval of a public welfare project, while execution and on-ground supervision rested with the implementing agency and railway authorities. The court noted that no material proof established that the councillor’s actions endangered railway operations. Citing Supreme Court guidelines, the High Court held that continuing the trial would amount to misuse of legal process and ordered all pending proceedings before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Shimla, to be set aside.