Morbi Bridge Collapse: Gujarat High Court asks State to blacklist Oreva group

The Gujarat High Court Tuesday asked the State government to take steps to blacklist Oreva group, the private contractor which was responsible for the repairs and maintenance of Morbi bridge which had collapsed in October 2022 killing hundreds. .A bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aniruddha Mayee said that the group should be blacklisted so that it does not 'volunteer' to upkeep any other public project.The Court made the observation after Advocate General Kamal Trivedi told the bench that the Oreva Group had initially volunteered to undertake the maintenance and operation of the 141-year-old suspension bridge known as Jultu Pul in Morbi, Gujarat. The said bridge collapsed on October 30, last year, killing hundreds after it was reopened following repairs and maintenance by the Oreva Group. The High Court had taken suo motu cognizance in the matter in November, 2022 and has been monitoring the case since then.On Tuesday, when the matter was called out, AG Trivedi apprised the bench of the developments in the case right from the criminal proceedings to the civil action etc.When asked whether there was any agreement or contract between the Nagar Palika and the contractor, AG Trivedi submitted that initially the contractor had 'volunteered' to look after the upkeep of the bridge.But the bench suggested some stern action like 'black listing' of the said group."Why don't you black list the contractor. Else they will volunteer somewhere else. This is very strange that they volunteered in a public activity," Chief Justice Agarwal said.The bench further sought to know if the Oreva group did some 'charity' by volunteering, to which, the AG responded, "That is not my case milord, may be they (Oreva) might claim so." The Chief Justice quipped, "And in charity you (contractor) took lives of hundreds of people.".During the hearing, Trivedi told the bench that the final report of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) which probed the incident, has been submitted to the State. He further said that the Director, Managers and even security guards of the Oreva group are in jail. The AG further highlighted the fact that the officer at the helm of the Morbi Nagar Palika is suspended and is facing departmental proceedings. He also said that the Nagarpalika has been dissolved and superseded..However, the bench sought to know from the Oreva group what exactly the group has done for the betterment of the children who were orphaned after the incident.It asked the group to file an affidavit spelling out the exact steps it has undertaken in this regard.The bench also said the group must consider providing jobs to the women, who lost their husbands in the incident.To this, the counsel appearing for the contractor said no such provision is being made."We are only providing education, accommodation and jobs to the orphans and not for the women as they were given compensation of nearly ₹20 lakh," the counsel submitted.The bench, however, said the compensation alone is not sufficient."Consider the fact that even women have become orphans, in a way, in this tragic incident. They were dependent on the bread earner of the family. And now that there is no bread earner, the women are left alone. You need to give them some jobs," the Chief Justice underscored.The bench also ordered the State to act as per the recommendations of the SIT in its final report.The matter will be next heard after Diwali vacation of the Court.