The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday issued notices to the state government and accused individuals in the Morbi Bridge collapse case, responding to a petition filed by one of the victims. The petitioner urged the court to stay the ongoing trial until M/s Ajanta Manufacturing Pvt Ltd is made an accused and charges of murder are invoked.
In an oral order uploaded late Tuesday, the High Court noted that the application “requires consideration” and directed the respondents, including the state government, to submit their replies by January 6. The court will hear the petition on the same date, which seeks to halt the trial currently being conducted in a lower court.
The petition was filed by Narendra Parmar, who lost his daughter, Dhwani, in the October 30, 2022 tragedy. Represented by advocate Utkarsh Dave, Parmar challenged the September 17 order of the Principal Sessions Judge of Morbi, which dismissed his application for further investigation into the bridge collapse incident.
The petition highlighted that the lower court had refused to include charges under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) or to name M/s Ajanta Manufacturing Pvt Ltd as an accused. The rejection was based on procedural grounds, with the prosecution arguing that private advocates cannot make submissions on behalf of victims without state government consultation or court permission under the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Parmar also sought interim relief to stay the ongoing trial until the Gujarat High Court resolves his petition.
The Morbi Bridge collapse, which occurred on October 30, 2022, resulted in the tragic loss of over 130 lives, raising critical questions about accountability and safety. The High Court’s decision in the matter is expected to have significant implications for the pursuit of justice in the case.
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