2022 Morbi bridge collapse tragedy: SC refuses to cancel bail granted to accused saying, “He was just selling the tickets”

The Supreme Court (SC) of India recently heard a plea related to the 2022 Morbi bridge collapse tragedy filed by Tragedy Victim Association, Morbi. The plea was filed against the Gujarat High Court’s order granting bail to Mansukhbhai Valjibhai Topia, who was issuing tickets at the Morbi bridge on the day it collapsed. The matter was mentioned before a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court including Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, Justice Manoj Misra, and Justice JB Pardiwala.  The bench refused to cancel the bail stating that “He was just selling the tickets”. While dismissing the Special Leave Petition, the bench stated that “We are not inclined to entertain the Special Leave Petitions under Article 136 of the Constitution. The Special leave petitions are accordingly dismissed”. 

On June 09, the Gujarat HC granted bail to the accused and observed that “Since the trial will take its own time to conclude, the presence of the applicant is not required in judicial custody as well as the applicant was the ticket issuing person hired  by the company, and therefore, I am of the opinion that this a fit case to exercise the discretion and enlarge the applicant on regular bail.” Challenging the decision of the HC, the Tragedy Victim Association, Morbi approached the Supreme Court. While hearing the matter, the bench termed the incident as an ‘enormous tragedy’ that resulted in the loss of approximately 141 lives. It also asked the HC to monitor whether dignified compensation is provided to the victims. 

The SC bench also pointed out that “As many as 141 persons including 47 children are reported to have perished in the Morbi bridge collapse. Several aspects of the matter would require obtaining periodical responses from the officials of the state and ‘Nagarpalika’ in order that the court is apprised of the antecedent facts leading up to the collapse of the bridge as well as the subsequent developments bearing on relief and rehabilitation and compensation.” lastly, a three-judge bench dismissed the plea challenging the bail granted to the accused in the 2022 Morbi bridge collapse tragedy.