New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday (November 18) granted the last opportunity to the Bihar government to file its response on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) highlighting the recent bridge collapses incidents in Bihar and raising concerns on the safety and longevity of bridges in the state.
The apex court had earlier on July 29 sought the responses of the Bihar government, National Highway Authorities of India (NHAI) and others on the PIL filed by lawyer Brajesh Singh.
Apex court also asked NHAI to file its response
A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar also asked NHAI to file its response to the PIL.
The bench noted that notices in the matter were issued to various authorities on the PIL on July 29 and granted the Bihar government six weeks to file the response, saying this is the last opportunity.
The bench has now listed the PIL for hearing on February 15 next year.
PIL was mentioned for urgent listing on November 4
Singh’s plea was recently on November 4 mentioned before a top court bench headed by the then Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, since retired, for urgent listing and the top court had agreed to list it for hearing.
Singh, in his plea seeking directions for structural audit, has said that as the under-construction bridges in Bihar routinely collapsed before their accomplishment, the urgent intervention of the top is required to save the lives of people.
PIL has highlighted serial collapsing of bridges in Bihar
Singh, while highlighting serial collapsing of bridges in Bihar, has submitted that the number of bridge collapses has increased in the state in recent times, which pose a threat to the human life at large. The collapsing of bridges in the state has become a routine affair due to deliberate apathy shown by the state government of Bihar and in the absence of any effective action against persons responsible for the collapsing of bridges, it added.
Singh recently also filed an interim application (IA) before the top court in his pending plea seeking the permission from the apex court to bring on record various media reports and additional documents to highlight dilapidated conditions of bridges in the state.
At least ten incidents of bridge collapses were reported from several districts of Bihar recently.
