Priyanka Rohra
Published on: 16 November 2022 at 18:25 IST
The Gujarat High Court rebuked the Morbi Municipal Corporation (MMC) for not submitting the response within time limit. The court has taken suo motu cognizance of case regarding the tragic Morbi Bridge collapse.
It is stated by the court, preliminary observation that “the government body, municipality, and other local authorities have functionally defaulted, killing 135 people,” and that even after sending notice, the authorities were irresponsible in responding to the notice and acting smart to shut their mouths.
At the hearing of the suo moto case related to the October 30 Morbi Bridge Collapse incidents, the judicial authority raised an issue about the way in which the contract for renovation was granted to Gujarat-based Ajanta Manufacturing, a part of the Oreva Group.
The Bench of Chief Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Ashutosh J Shastri has even directed to file the response by evening or pay fine.
The bench has asked the parties to take this matter not so casually.
“Either file your affidavit by today evening or pay costs of ₹1 lakh.”
Notably, the bench sought the reply from the Gujarat government that why the private contractor was allowed the project of Morbi Bridge construction when his previous agreement expired way back in 2017. The questions arise against the authorities: –
- Why a government tender was given to a private company without floating the tenders and without inviting the bidders which is under the PPP the public private partnership of Gujarat government?
- Why the fitness certificate was not given and whose responsibility was it to ensure that the fitness claim was included in the agreement?
- Why did the collector of Rajkot and the Municipal Corporation of Morbi taken any steps to ensure the tender if being floated in 2020 when the repair work of Morbi was given?
At the present status the case is on hearing for tomorrow the bailiff which is basically the officer has been appointed by the Gujarat high court who will now be ensuring that Morbi municipal corporation chief is ought to be present in the courts tomorrow.
The judges picked on counsel when the Gujarat Municipal Morbi Corporation Chief was nowhere to be seen.
The Advocate General, who represents the Gujarat Government, stated that he did not receive the notice regarding this.
The Court came down heavily on counsel and told him not to act too cleverly, noting that 135 people had died and that he needed to be present in court.
Because prima facie it has been seems the biggest default is Gujarat Municipal Corporation and judiciary has to been stringent with the laws.
The Bench had then directed the State, its Chief Secretary, the Morbi Municipal Corporation, the Urban Development (UDD), the State Home Department and the State Human Rights Commission to be impleaded as parties in the matter and sought their responses.