Gujarat HC takes suo motu cognisance over Morbi bridge collapse

The Gujarat High Court issued a notice to government authorities and the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) in relation to the Morbi bridge collapse that killed 135 people a week ago. A division bench headed by Chief Justice Aravind Kumar took suo motu cognisance of reports in the Times of India.

The court sought a status report by November 14 on the action taken so far after the tragic incident. "On account of the courts having been closed due to Diwali vacations, telephonic instruction was issued to the registrar (judicial) to treat the said article as suo motu PIL by registering it accordingly, after necessary formalities," said Chief Justice while dictating the order. The bench also includes Justice Ashutosh Shastri.

Six respondent parties - the chief secretary to the Gujarat government, the home department of the Gujarat government, the urban development department, the Morbi municipality, the Morbi district collector, and the SHRC - are involved in the lawsuit. The Gujarat chief secretary and the home department secretary are asked to file a status report in a week. The SHRC has also been asked to file a report by the next hearing.