Morbi Bridge Collapse: Gujarat High Court slams civic body for ‘ACTING SMART,’ warns of action

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday got here down closely on the Morbi civic body over severe lapses in awarding the contract for restore work of the Morbi Bridge that collapse killing not less than 130 folks on October 30. The High Court slammed the Morbi civic body for “acting smart” and sought direct solutions from it over the style by which the contract was awarded for upkeep of a 150-year-old bridge that collapsed on October 30.

“The municipality, a government body, has defaulted, which ultimately killed 135 people,” the court docket mentioned as a preliminary statement. As the municipality was not represented by any officers right this moment regardless of a discover, the bench remarked, “They are acting smart.” 

The excessive court docket additionally directed the civic officers to apprise  if there have been any situations for certifying health of the bridge earlier than its reopening and who took the choice.

“The state shall also place on record reasons why disciplinary proceedings against chief officer of the civic body aren’t commenced,” it mentioned. “The largesse of the state seems to have been granted without there being any tender floated in this regard,” its order famous. 

Chief Justice Aravind Kumar, referring to the state’s Chief Secretary, sought to know “Why was the tender for the repair work of a public bridge not floated? Why weren’t bids invited?” It could also be famous that the Morbi civic body had given the 15-year contract to Oreva Group, which is greatest recognized for the Ajanta model of wall clocks. 

The Gujarat High Court had earlier taken suo motu cognizance of the Morbi bridge tragedy and the division bench of Chief Justice Kumar and Justice Ashutosh Shastri had issued notices to the state authorities and the state human rights fee on November 7 on the October 30 tragedy and sought a standing report.

The HC mentioned on November 7 that it had taken suo motu (by itself) cognisance of a information report on the bridge collapse tragedy and registered it as a PIL (Public Interest Litigation).

It directed the registry to implead the Gujarat authorities, represented by its chief secretary, state residence division, commissioner of municipalities, Morbi municipality, district collector and State Human Rights Commission.

“Respondents 1 and 2 (chief secretary and home secretary) shall file a status report by next Monday. The State Human Rights Commission shall file a report in this regard by the next date of hearing,” the court docket had mentioned in its order.

Police on October 31 arrested 9 individuals, together with 4 from the Oreva group that was managing the Morbi suspension bridge, and filed a case in opposition to companies tasked with the upkeep and operation of the construction.