The Gujarat High Court has taken a suo motu cognisance of the Morbi Bridge collapse of October 30, 2022.
The Morbi bridge which is about 141-year-old suspension bridge on the Machchuu river in Morbi, Gujarat collapsed on October 31,leaving about 135 people dead and many injured.
A private firm named the Oreva Group had maintained and repaired the bridge which collapsed, taking death toll to a high number, leaving many widows, childless and orphans.
A bench comprising of Chief Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Ashutosh J Shastri noted that it was rather very disheartening to see untimely death of hundreds of people.
The Court while addressing the Advocate General told said that Court has taken a suo motu cognizance of the matter and is desirous to know the steps taken by the State so far.
The Court has instructed the state, along with its Chief Secretary, Morbi Municipal Corporation head, Urban Development Department (UDD), State Home Department and State Human Rights Commission to be impleaded as parties.
The court has asked for a detailed report from the State within next 10 days for further hearing on November 14, 2022.
Court has instructed the State Human Rights Commission for filing a separate report of the incident with details on the people and suffering
Chief Justice Aravind Kumar also made it clear that on October 31, 2022, telephonic instructions were given by him to the Registrar of the High Court for getting an article published in the newspaper (Times of India ) about the PIL that was filed, but could not be heard due to the Diwali vacation.
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