Pulling up the state government over the award of the operation and maintenance contract for the Morbi suspension bridge that collapsed October 30, resulting in the death of 135 people, the Gujarat High Court Tuesday inquired if the “largesse was given to Ajanta (Ajanta Manufacturing Pvt Ltd of the Oreva Group) without a tender”.
Observing that “prima facie the municipality has defaulted which led to the unfortunate incident,” the division bench of Chief Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice A J Shastri directed the state to “secure” all files on contracts and agreements related to the bridge and file it before the Registry in a sealed cover by November 17.
