Ahmedabad: The Gujarat high court on Tuesday reiterated that Oreva Group, which managed the Morbi suspension bridge, must create a trust to look after the victims’ dependents till their “last breaths”.
Oreva had promised to look after the welfare of the kin of victims of the bridge collapse. During the hearing of the suo motu PIL on the tragedy, the government placed a report by Morbi collector about the mental and physical condition of survivors and victim’s dependents.
The HC was apprised of how three survivors still require treatment because of their permanent disability. The court was told that four of 10 women widowed have agreed to Oreva’s job offers, but six refused. One is a conductor with the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation, another insisted on a sewing machine instead of a job, and one refused the job as she is financially stable. Families of three women widowed don’t want them to work.
The court found the report incomplete because it did not explain the status of children who lost one of their parents. Oreva’s counsel claimed to have provided all financial support to seven orphans. The court said the company will have to take care of another 14 children, too.
The bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aniruddha Mayee said, “You (the company) will have to create a trust…Their (victims’ kin) needs may change. We suggested on the last occasion that you will have to take care of everyone till their last breaths.”
The court has posted further hearing on Feb 26.
Oreva had promised to look after the welfare of the kin of victims of the bridge collapse. During the hearing of the suo motu PIL on the tragedy, the government placed a report by Morbi collector about the mental and physical condition of survivors and victim’s dependents.
The HC was apprised of how three survivors still require treatment because of their permanent disability. The court was told that four of 10 women widowed have agreed to Oreva’s job offers, but six refused. One is a conductor with the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation, another insisted on a sewing machine instead of a job, and one refused the job as she is financially stable. Families of three women widowed don’t want them to work.
The court found the report incomplete because it did not explain the status of children who lost one of their parents. Oreva’s counsel claimed to have provided all financial support to seven orphans. The court said the company will have to take care of another 14 children, too.
The bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aniruddha Mayee said, “You (the company) will have to create a trust…Their (victims’ kin) needs may change. We suggested on the last occasion that you will have to take care of everyone till their last breaths.”
The court has posted further hearing on Feb 26.