SC says Gujarat Morbi Bride collapse was a “colossal tragedy”. | Tech Reddy

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday said the Morbi Bride collapse that claimed more than 140 lives was a “huge tragedy” and asked the Gujarat High Court, which is already hearing a writ petition on the same issue, to hold a phased hearing.
“It is a colossal tragedy and will require weekly monitoring to see the award of contract, credentials of the parties to the contract, accountability for the culprits,” observed a bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Hima Kohli. The top court noted that a division bench headed by the Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court had already taken a suo motu note of the incident and passed three orders, saying it would not hear the petition till now.
It asked the petitioners to approach the High Court with their petition for an independent inquiry and dignified compensation to those who lost their family members.
More than 140 people, including 47 children, died when the British-era bridge over the Machu river collapsed in Morbi on October 30.
The apex court was hearing a petition filed by a person who lost two of his relatives in the incident, seeking a CBI probe, dignified compensation to be paid to the bereaved family members, fixation of liability against city officials and accountability of the body responsible for maintaining the bridge.
It was also hearing a PIL seeking a direction to appoint a judicial commission headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to initiate an inquiry into the Morbi Bridge collapse incident.
During the hearing, the bench said that the Gujarat High Court had already taken suo motu action on the Morbi Bridge collapse on October 30 so it would not hear the case. It said the high court would “undoubtedly seize upon a regulatory mechanism to ensure that such incidents do not recur.”
“We are of the view that the High Court should also devote its time and attention to other aspects of the matter which have been highlighted above while recording the submissions of the learned counsel for the petitioner,” the bench said in its order.
Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General of India, appearing for the Gujarat government, submitted that the High Court had already taken note of the matter and the petitioner could raise the issues there.
More than 140 people were killed and more than 100 were injured in the collapse of the suspension bridge over Morbi Machu river.
According to the report, the bridge was closed for maintenance for about 8 months and the repair work was completed by a private company.
Gujarat Police has filed a First Information Report under IPC Sections 304 and 308 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) in the bridge collapse tragedy.
The Gujarat government has constituted a five-member committee to probe the bridge collapse. (ANI)