The Supreme Court of India, on April 2, transferred a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the recurring collapses of bridges in Bihar to the Patna High Court. The PIL had sought the formation of a high-level expert committee to investigate and address the structural vulnerabilities of these bridges.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar was hearing the plea, which urged the Bihar government to conduct a thorough structural audit of all bridges. The petition also called for the identification and necessary strengthening or demolition of any weak bridges to prevent further incidents.

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Upon reviewing the Counter Affidavit submitted by the Bihar government, the Supreme Court decided to transfer the case to the Patna High Court for further proceedings. While announcing the decision, CJI Khanna remarked:

"We have gone through the counter, and we are transferring it to the Patna High Court. In the counter, they have given details of what they are doing, the inspections, etc."

The petitioner's counsel emphasized that multiple bridge collapses had occurred, yet no independent third-party inspection had taken place so far. Justice Sanjay Kumar highlighted a serious issue, stating:

"Three under-construction bridges collapsed! The concerned officials were suspended for a while and then brought back. Everyone is hand in glove."

In response, the Bihar government’s counsel informed the court that departmental proceedings had been initiated against the responsible officials and were currently ongoing. Furthermore, it was stated that over 10,000 bridges had already been inspected as part of the government's review process.

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CJI Khanna further observed:

"We will transfer it to the High Court; let them monitor it on a monthly basis."

Following the deliberations, the Supreme Court issued the following directive:

"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 was directed to transfer the case files to the Patna High Court within four weeks. All parties involved in the case have been instructed to appear before the Patna High Court on May 14, 2025.

Background of the PIL

The PIL was originally filed in July 2024 after several reports emerged about at least nine recent bridge collapses, including those still under construction. The petition raised concerns about the safety and durability of bridge infrastructure in Bihar, a state known to be the most flood-prone in India.

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The PIL also called for the establishment of a dedicated high-level expert committee to:

• Conduct thorough structural audits
• Continuously monitor bridge safety
• Recommend necessary measures to prevent future collapses

According to the petition, multiple bridge collapses have been reported in flood-prone districts such as Araria, Siwan, Madhubani, and Kishanganj.

The petitioner emphasized the urgency of the matter, stating:

"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, covering 73.06% of the total geographical area. Such routine collapses of bridges in Bihar pose a severe threat to public safety. Therefore, urgent intervention from this Hon’ble Court is required to save lives, as even under-construction bridges are collapsing before completion."

The PIL also proposed real-time monitoring of bridges based on the methodology developed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways under its policy for the Preservation of National Highways and Centrally Sponsored Scheme, dated March 4, 2024.

Case Details : BRAJESH SINGH VS. THE STATE OF BIHAR W.P.(C) No. 000462 / 2024