Morbi Tragedy| 'Suo Moto PIL Served Its Purpose, Matter Be Given Quietus': State, Oreva Submit In Gujarat High Court

The Gujarat state government as well as the Oreva Group on Tuesday submitted before the Gujarat High Court that since the suo moto PIL pertaining to the Morbi Bridge Collapse incident which took away the lives of 135 people in October 2022 has served its purpose, it is time to give a quietus to the matter.

The submission was made before the bench of Acting Chief Justice AJ Desai and Justice Biren Vaishnav by the Advocate General appearing for the state and Senior Advocate Nirupam Nanavati, appearing for the Oreva group (which managed the Bridge), whose top officials are currently in jail in connection with the bridge collapse case.

When the bench inquired about what remains to be done in the matter, Senior Counsel Nanavati submitted that the matter may be laid to rest as the company has already submitted the amount as ordered by the High Court with the Gujarat State Legal Services Authority.

"The amount/compensation (Rs 10 lakh as interim compensation to each of the 135 deceased’s kin, and Rs 2 lakh each to the 56 injured victims) is deposited. The Morbi Nagarpalika is superseded. chief officer is suspended Those who are in the (Oreva) group, including the managing director is in judicial custody so as such the purpose is served," the Senior Counsel submitted.

On the other hand, the Advocate General Kamal Trivedi also submitted that the matter be given a quietus as the proceedings have been initiated under Section 263 of the Municipalities Act, 1962 against the Morbi Nagarpalika and the Nagarpalika has been superseded and the then Chief Officer and the Administrator have already been appointed.

In view of this, the Bench adjourned the matter for July 10 while directing that the amount deposited by the Oreva group be disbursed as per the HC's March 9 order.

The 141-year-old suspension bridge hanging over the Machchuu River reopened two weeks ago (before it collapsed on October 30) after repairs and maintenance by the Oreva company.