The Supreme Court has granted bail to Oreva Group Managing Director Jaysukh Patel and nine other accused the Morbi bridge collapse incident that had killed 135 people.
The bail plea of one of the accused, Devangbhai Parmar of Devprakash Solutions, is pending before the Gujarat High Court. Jaysukh Patel’s release comes after nearly 15 months since he was arrested and after the Gujarat High Court had refused to grant him bail in December 2023. While refusing bail, the high court took into consideration that prima facie, Patel was aware of the dilapidated condition of the bridge and as a managing director, he could have taken corrective measures to ensure that such an incident was prevented.
Meanwhile, a division bench of the Gujarat High Court of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aniruddha Mayee, while hearing the suo motu public interest litigation initiated in the aftermath of the incident implored the company to ensure that all affected victims are sufficiently taken care of to ensure that they can lead independent lives.
In the case of a woman who has suffered disability on account of the incident and is working at JP Morgan in Mumbai, Chief Justice Agarwal suggested that the company purchase a two-bedroom house for her in a locality like Parel in Mumbai to ensure that she is taken care of.
Chief Justice Agarwal additionally remarked to the company, “Your liability towards corporate social responsibility (CSR) is irrespective of the incident and I think you’ve to adopt entire Morbi for that and just change the face of the city…you should do (it), you’re earning out of that place, you’re earning because of those people who died, you’re earning because of parents of those children who have died. Otherwise if there is a labour problem, your company would be wound up…what about the workforce without whom you won’t survive, this is miniscule for you…you’re a flourishing company. Actually you should appoint a public welfare officer sort of a person for this purpose.”
The court will hear the matter after three weeks.
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