Railways Act, 1989
71. Power to give direction in regard to carriage of
certain goods.
(1) The Central Government may, if it is of the opinion that it
is necessary in the public interest so to do, by general or special order,
direct any railway administration-
(a) to give special facilities for, or
preference to, the carriage of such goods or class of goods consigned by or to
the Central Government or the Government of any State or of such other goods or
class of goods;
(b) to carry any goods or class of goods by
such route or routes and at such rates;
(c) to restrict or, refuse acceptance of such
goods or class of goods at or to such station for carriage, as may be specified
in the order.
(2) Any order made under sub-section (1) shall cease to have
effect after the expiration of a period of one year from the date of such
order, but may, by a like order, be renewed from time to time for such period
not exceeding one year at a time as may be specified in the order.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, every
railway administration shall be bound to comply with any order given under
sub-section (1) and any action taken by a railway administration in pursuance
of any such order shall not be deemed to be a contravention of section 70.