Gujarat Morbi tragedy: HC slaps notices to BJP Govt, State human rights panel

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court on Monday slapped notices on the BJP Government and the State Human Rights Commission in a suo motu petition in the October 30 Morbi foot bridge collapse amid allegations that the government is shielding the structure’s maintenance firm owner as well as the town’s BJP-run municipality.

The collapse of the pedestrian bridge over river Machhu in Morbi claimed 135 lives.  

Report to be submitted by November 14

A division bench of Chief Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Ashutosh Shastri took up the Morbi tragedy case as the first matter after the court opened after the Diwali break and sought a status report by November 14 on the action taken so far in the case.

The court observed a two-minute silence to mourn the Morbi victims before commencing the proceedings.

A public interest litigation (PIL) has been instituted after the Chief Justice had taken suo motu cognisance of reports in the Times of India’s October 31 edition dated October 31 and the very day gave telephonic instructions for it to the Registrar (Judicial) of the court. 

“On account of the courts having been closed due to Diwali vacations, telephonic instruction was issued to the registrar (judicial) to treat the said article as suo motu PIL by registering it accordingly, after necessary formalities,” the Chief Justice said while dictating the order.

6 state bodies impleaded

The high court impleaded six respondent parties to the litigation, including the State Chief Secretary, the Home Department, the Urban Development Department through the Commissioner of Municipalities, the Morbi Municipality, the Morbi District Collector and the state rights commission. 

The Gujarat chief secretary and the home secretary have been asked to submit its “status report” on the incident in a week. with respect to the incident in a week’s time, while the SHRC should file a report by the next date of hearing.