The Supreme Court, on April 2, transferred to the Patna High Court a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought the formation of a high-level committee to investigate the recurring collapses of bridges in Bihar.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar was hearing the PIL, which requested directions to the Bihar government for a comprehensive structural audit and the establishment of an expert committee to assess the integrity of existing bridges and determine whether any need to be reinforced or demolished. After reviewing the Counter Affidavit submitted by the State of Bihar, which outlined the ongoing inspections and measures taken, the bench decided to transfer the petition to the Patna High Court. CJI Khanna, while delivering the decision, remarked, "We have gone through the counter, and we are transferring this to the Patna High Court. The affidavit provides details of inspections and actions being undertaken."
During the proceedings, the petitioner’s counsel highlighted that despite multiple bridge collapses in the state; no independent third-party inspection had been conducted so far, underscoring the need for a more thorough investigation.
Justice Kumar also weighed in to point out that, "3 under construction bridges collapsed! The concerned officials were suspended for a while and then brought back. Everyone is hand in glove". The Counsel for the state of Bihar submitted that the departmental proceedings have been initiated and are ongoing against the concerned officials. The CJI then verbally observed, "We will transfer it to the High Court, let them monitor it on a monthly basis". The Counsel for the State also informed that more than 10,000 bridges have been inspected.
The bench proceeded to pass the following order:
"Having regard to the nature of the controversy, the Counter Affidavit ...We are of the opinion that the present writ petition be transferred to the High Court of Patna, which can conduct expeditious and appropriate hearings from time to time. The registry is directed to transfer the files to the Patna High Court within a period of 4 weeks, parties to appear before the High Court on 14th of May, 2025".
In July 2024, a bench comprising CJI DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra issued a notice in response to the PIL. The petition, filed the same month, was prompted by reports of at least nine recent bridge collapses, including those under construction. It highlighted serious concerns about the safety and reliability of Bihar’s bridge infrastructure, particularly given that the state is the most flood-prone in India. The PIL calls not only for a structural audit but also for the establishment of a high-level expert committee. This committee would conduct a thorough examination and ensure continuous monitoring of bridges to guarantee public safety. It also emphasizes the frequent bridge collapses in riverine areas, particularly in the districts of Araria, Siwan, Madhubani, and Kishanganj.
"It is a matter of grave concern that in a state like Bihar, which is the most flood-prone state of India, the total flood-affected area in the state is 68,800 sq. km which is 73.06 per cent of the total geographical area. Hence such routine accrual of the incident of falling bridges in Bihar is more disastrous as the lives of people at large are at stake. Therefore the urgent intervention of this Hon'ble Court is required to save the lives of people, as the under-construction bridges before its accomplishment collapsed routinely," the petitioner said.
The petitioner requested real-time monitoring of bridges using the methodology established by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, as outlined in its policy dated March 4, 2024, for the Preservation of National Highways and the Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
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