New Delhi: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petitioner, who has moved a plea before the Supreme Court raising concerns on the collapsing of several bridges in Bihar recently, has sought the permission from the top court to bring on record various media reports and additional documents to highlight dilapidated conditions of bridges in the state.
The PIL, filed by lawyer Brajesh Singh, has said that as the under-construction bridges collapsed routinely in Bihar before their accomplishment, the urgent intervention of this court is required to save the lives of people.
Apex Court on November 4 agreed to list Singh’s plea for hearing
Singh’s plea was recently on November 4 mentioned before a bench comprising the then Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, since retired, and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra for urgent listing and the bench had agreed to list it for hearing.
Apex Court earlier sought response of Bihar government, NHAI and others
The same bench, while hearing Singh’s PIL, had on July 29 this year had sought the response of the Bihar government, National Highway Authorities of India (NHAI), additional chief secretary of the Road Construction Department, chairperson of the Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Ltd and additional chief secretary of the rural works department.
The PIL is likely to be heard by the top court on November 18.
Singh has filed an interim application (IA) on November 14 in his pending PILs seeking to bring on record various media reports relating to poor conditions of bridges in Bihar.
“I have filed an IA for placing additional documents before the concerned bench as in the state of Bihar the bridges and culverts are still in dilapidated conditions and they are collapsing on a routine basis,” news agency PTI quoted Singh as saying.
PIL has highlighted serial collapsing of bridges in Bihar
Singh, while highlighted serial collapsing of bridges in Bihar in his PIL, has submitted that the number of collapsing of bridges has increased in the state in recent times posing a threat to the human life at large and that it has become a routine affair due to deliberate apathy shown by the state government and in the absence of any effective action against persons responsible for the collapsing of bridges.
At least ten incidents of bridge collapse were reported from several districts of Bihar recently.