Excessive Court docket says Morbi civic physique “appearing sensible” after authorities fail to point out up at listening to

Ahmedabad:

Slamming the Morbi civic physique for “appearing sensible”, the Gujarat Excessive Court docket immediately sought direct solutions and slammed the style by which the contract was awarded for upkeep of a 150-year-old bridge that collapsed on October 30 killing over 130 individuals.

“The municipality, a authorities physique, has defaulted, which in the end killed 135 individuals,” the courtroom stated as a preliminary statement. Because the municipality was not represented by any officers immediately regardless of a discover, the bench remarked, “They’re appearing sensible.” 

It pointedly requested officers to return again with particulars on whether or not any situation for certifying health of the bridge earlier than its reopening was half the settlement, and who the individual accountable was.

“The state shall additionally place on report explanation why disciplinary proceedings towards chief officer of the civic physique aren’t commenced,” it stated.

“The largesse of the state appears to have been granted with out there being any tender floated on this regard,” its order famous. 

“Why was the tender for the restore work of a public bridge not floated? Why weren’t bids invited?” Chief Justice Aravind Kumar stated to the Chief Secretary, the state’s prime bureaucrat, on the opening listening to of the case that might be heard on Wednesday too.

The Morbi municipality had given the 15-year contract to Oreva Group, which is finest recognized for the Ajanta model of wall clocks.

“How was an settlement for such an necessary work accomplished in only one and a half pages?” the Chief Justice stated. “Was the largesse of the state given to Ajanta firm with none tender being floated?” the courtroom additional noticed.

It requested for the premise on which the bridge was being operated by the corporate after June 2017 “even when [the contract signed in 2008] was not renewed”. A brand new settlement was signed this yr.

The courtroom had taken be aware of the tragedy by itself and sought replies from not less than six departments. Chief Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Ashutosh J Shastri are listening to the matter.

Up to now, just some workers of the contracted firm have been arrested, whereas the highest administration, which signed the Rs 7-crore pact, has not confronted motion, nor have any officers been held accountable for the bridge having been reopened forward of the renovation schedule.

It’s alleged that the corporate didn’t substitute the rusted cables however put in a brand new flooring that proved too heavy.  

The courtroom requested for recordsdata of the contract from the primary day to be submitted in a sealed envelope. 

The federal government has submitted that it labored at “lightning pace” and saved many lives. “9 individuals have been arrested, and if anyone else is discovered to be responsible, we’ll undoubtedly guide them,” a authorities lawyer stated. It submitted that financial compensation has been give too: The state introduced Rs 4 lakh to households of the lifeless and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited the catastrophe web site in his house state, introduced Rs 2 lakh every from the central authorities for households of the lifeless.  

Within the order immediately, the courtroom directed the Principal District Decide of Morbi to nominate a bailiff to a discover to the civic physique. It famous that, although the state has filed an affidavit, some clarifications had been wanted in regards to the contract.

“The checklist of chronological occasions would point out that MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) was signed on June 16, 2008, between Collector and the contractor,” it famous. 

“This [contract] was to function, preserve, handle and acquire hire in respect of the suspension bridge. The stated interval expired on June 15, 2017. Thus the moot query could be: Beneath this MoU, who had been fastened the duty to certify the health of bridge… After the time period was over in 2017, what steps had been taken by Morbi civic physique and the Collector thereafter to drift a young?” the courtroom stated.

Rights panel is probing too

Whereas the state authorities has arrange a five-member inquiry committee to look into lapses, the Gujarat State Human Rights Fee knowledgeable the courtroom immediately that its chairperson and a member are probing the ramifications of the tragedy.

The fee can also be verifying if the compensation is being is paid correctly to the households. 

The courtroom sought to additional know from the state if it may present jobs to members of the family of victims who had been sole earners.