Even after two years, the owner of the Oreva company, one of India’s biggest clock manufacturers, remains callous towards victims and kins of the Morbi Suspension Bridge tragedy.
Oreva manufactures clocks under the brand name Ajanta from Morbi in Gujarat. In October 2022, a heritage suspension bridge renovated by this company fell within days of inauguration. It killed 135 people and rendered several physically incapacitated for lifetime.
Even as victims and kin of 2022 Morbi tragedy have sought reinvestigation in the case by the CBI, the Gujarat High Court has now directed the Oreva Company to bear the expenses of eight girls.
Also Read: Morbi Bridge Collapse Victims’ Group Alleges Flawed Survey on Financial Needs
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agrawal and Justice Pranav Trivedi while hearing a suo motu PIL in the case expressed disbelief that the multi-million company could remain so indifferent and callous towards those whom it had harmed. It must be noted that the BJP-ruled Morbi municipality picked up Oreva for the Suspension bridge renovation contract even though Oreva did not qualify a single condition for the same. It had never ever forayed into this area before but still Oreva owned by Jaysukh Patel was awarded the contract. The bridge, originally built and functional by the Britishers collapsed on October 30, 2022, less than three days after it was inaugurated and re-opened.
The clock making company Oreva was given a 15-year contract for the maintenance and operation of the bridge. Owner Jaysukh Patel first went absconding and was arrested after five weeks. The police could not locate him. He was arrested when he surrendered to the police.
Also Read: Morbi Bridge Collapse: HC Slams Oreva Group, Issues Show Cause Notice
Utkarsh Dave who is representing the victims and kin of the Morbi Bridge tragedy told Vibes of India that he is seeking re-investigation in the case. “The Gujarat police is not doing justice. It is not carrying out proper investigation. The case should be handed over to the CBI”, Dave told Gujarat High Court.
Utkarsh Dave has rightly pointed out that even after two years of the tragedy, not a single official of Morbi Municipality, involved in awarding the contract to the Oreva group has been made an accused in the case. “This is despite the fact that the SIT in its report held them accountable for dereliction of duty,” he said.
Also Read: Morbi Victims’ Kin Move HC For CBI Probe
The Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court Sunita Agarwal observed that in this case, such an investigation will not help to deliver justice.
“Let the trial go on. Just bring everything before the court’s notice. We will hear you on the SIT report in the next date. We are also here to help the victims,” the Chief Justice said.
During the hearing, the bench came down heavily on the Oreva Group. Advocate Aishvarya Gupta, appointed court commissioner by the bench, said that out of the 21 children, who lost either one or both the parents, eight are girls.
The Chief Justice pointed out the “insensitive approach” shown by the Oreva group ever since the tragedy occurred. It is widely believed in Gujarat that the much-moneyed Oreva group has solid BJP protection. Some victims have even apprehended fear in deposing because of the BJP clout in Morbi.
Also Read: Gujarat HC Seeks Action Taken Report on Morbi Bridge Collapse Investigation
The court also directed that a suitable job be found for a youngster, who was partially disabled due to bridge collapse. The High Court could not believe that Oreva said there was no job suitable for the youngster.
When the Chief Justice learnt that the company said that there was no job for the youngster, she said that this was insensitive on the company’s part. He can work from the office, the Chief Justice, observed.
Also Read: Morbi Bridge Collapse: Gujarat HC Asks Amicus To Meet Victims, Submit Report
