[Morbi] "Let Them Learn, Give Back To Society": Gujarat HC Appoints 2 'Young' Advocates As Amicus Curiae In Suo Moto PIL

The Gujarat High Court today appointed two 'young' advocates as amicus curiae to assist the court in the ongoing suo motu PIL plea pertaining to the Morbi Bridge Collapse incident which took away the lives of 135 people in October 2022.

The two advocates who have been appointed as amicus curiae are: Advocates Varun Patel and Priya Panchal

"Since this is a suo moto PIL plea, we want these youngsters (Advocates Varun Patel and Priya Panchal) to assist the Court...Let these two youngsters do some job...It will be easy for us," a bench of Chief Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Ashutosh J. Shastri orally remarked.

To this, when Advocate General Kamal Trivedi raised his reservations against this proposal, Chief Justice Aravind Kumar said:

"We wanted to appoint at the first instance, this we are doing only for the purpose that the information is collated and placed before the court so that it will reduce our time...There will be a lot of work. We want them to learn and that is why we selected two youngsters of almost the same age."

"Yes, Varun. Free Work. No Money. This is a pro bono service. This is what you can give back to society," the Chief Justice told one of the two advocates. 

However, in its order, the Court stated that the professional fee (to be paid to the newly appointed amicus) would be decided from time to time and would be paid by Gujarat State Legal Services Authority.

Significantly, while hearing the suo moto PIL plea today, the Court perused the report filed by the SIT in the case and took into account its suggestions, and asked the state to place on record the proposed policy to meet such exigencies and specify the number of public structures used by the public regularly and whether a periodic audit of the same are being done.

During the course of the hearing, the company which was managing and was responsible for the repair work of the Morbi Bridge, Ajanta appeared before the Court through its counsel seeking its impleadment in the matter, however, the Court did not allow the application, and asked Company's counsel to file a fresh application with the necessary details (address of the company and other details). For the limited purpose of hearing the application, the Court has listed the matter for hearing on December 21.

Before the Court, Advocate General for State Kamal Trivedi today gave details and the status of treatment being given to the injured victims of the incident.

[Detailed order is awaited]