Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court has taken suo moto cognisance of the Morbi Bridge collapse today, 8 days after the incident that claimed 134 lives.
“We have taken suo moto cognizance of Morbi incident. But for the vacation, we would have sat on the same day itself… we want some action from your end”, a bench of chief justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Ashutosh J Shashtri told advocate General Kamal Trivedi.
The court today directed the State government through its chief secretary, state’s home department through its home secretary, the Morbi Municipal Corporation through its chief officer, the urban development authority, the collector of Morbi district, and the State Human Rights Commission as respondent parties.
The state shall file a status report by next Monday specifying the steps taken so far, and the State Human Rights Commission shall file a separate report on the matter listed on November 14.
The 141-year old suspension bridge hanging over the Machchuu River was reopened two weeks ago after repairs and maintenance by the Oreva company. A PIL in Supreme Court seeks judicial inquiry in the matter. The court however stated that it was waiting for the state government to take proper steps in the matter.