New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday observed that the bridge collapse in Gujarat’s Morbi district last month was an ‘enormous tragedy’ and requires weekly monitoring.
A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice Hima Kohli asked the Gujarat High Court to take up the matter on a periodical basis.
“It is an enormous tragedy and this will require a weekly monitoring to see award of contract, credential of party awarded the contract, attribution of responsibility for those guilty,” the bench orally remarked, as reported by Bar and Bench.
The bench eventually directed the High Court to hold periodical hearings.
“As many as 140 have died out of which 47 are children. several aspects of matter would require periodical references and so that HC is apprised of antecedent facts….We request High Court to take this up on periodical basis,” the Court said.
The judges were hearing two petitions filed by individuals seeking an independent investigation into the incident.
The apex court noted that a division bench headed by the Gujarat High Court Chief Justice has already taken a suo motu note of the incident and has passed three orders, it will not hear the petitions as of now.
It asked petitioners to approach the High Court with their pleas seeking an independent probe and award of dignified compensation to those who lost their family members, as reported by news agency ANI.
The British-era bridge on the Machchhu river in Morbi collapsed on October 30 leaving over 140 dead including 47 children.
The tragedy took place just days after it was open to the public following seven months of renovation.
