Hearing the suo-motu case over collapse of Morbi suspension bridge that killed 130 people last month, the Gujarat High Court on Tuesday rebuked the Morbi civic body for โacting smartโ while seeking direct answers. The HC also lashed out at the manner in which the contract was awarded for maintenance of a 150-year-old British-era bridge.
In its preliminary observation, the court remarked: โThe municipality, a government body, has defaulted, which ultimately killed 135 people.โ The bench, realising that no official had appeared to represent the civic body despite a notice, said: โThey are acting smart.โ
Asking officials to come back with details on if the condition of issuing certification of fitness before reopening was part the conditions mentioned in the agreement. The bench also asked who the person responsible was.
โThe state shall also place on record reasons why disciplinary proceedings against chief officer of the civic body arenโt commenced,โ the Gujarat HC said.
โThe largesse of the state seems to have been granted without there being any tender floated in this regard.โ
At the opening hearing of the case that will be heard on Wednesday too, stateโs top bureaucrat Chief Secretary was asked by Chief Justice Aravind Kumar: โWhy was the tender for the repair work of a public bridge not floated? Why werenโt bids invited?โ
โHow was an agreement for such an important work completed in just one and a half pages? Was the largesse of the state given to Ajanta company without any tender being floated?โ the court asked.
โOn which basis the bridge was being operated by the company after June 2017 even when [the contract signed in 2008] was not renewed?โ the court asked. A new agreement was signed between the company and civic body this year.
The Gujarat HC ordered the Principal District Judge of Morbi to appoint a bailiff to a notice to the civic body. Though the state has filed an affidavit, some clarifications were needed about the contract, the court noted.
โThe list of chronological events would indicate that MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) was signed on June 16, 2008, between Collector and the contractor,โ the bench said.
โThis [contract] was to operate, maintain, manage and collect rent in respect of the suspension bridge. The said period expired on June 15, 2017. Thus the moot question would be: Under this MoU, who had been fixed the responsibility to certify the fitness of bridgeโฆ After the term was over in 2017, what steps were taken by Morbi civic body and the Collector thereafter to float a tender?โ the court asked, seeking response.
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