The Disaster known as Bhopal Gas Tragedy
The Disaster known as Bhopal Gas Tragedy
The Disaster known as Bhopal Gas Tragedy
The Disaster known as Bhopal Tragedy
26 years after the Bhopal Gas Tragedy causing death to15000 innocent citizens, CJM Court pronounced on June 7, 2010 its decision holding Union Carbide Chairman Keshub Mahindra and seven others guilty and sentenced them to two years imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs.1,01750/-.CJM court also allowed their release on bail on furnishing a surety of Rs.25000/-.
All the accused were held guilty u/s 304 A (causing death by negligence) 336, 337 and 338 (gross negligence) of the IPC. Article 304 of the IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) that provides for life imprisonment to accused was not invoked citing the reason "since they were old and suffering from seriousailment including hert desease". The 89 year old Chairman of the Union Carbide Corporation of the USA for the present seems to have gone scot free as he is absconding and did not subject himself for trial.
The judgement invited the wrath of the civil rights activists and the parties. The punishment was grossly inadequate. Even Law Minister Veerappa Moily reacted to the judgement as an example of justice buried'. The judgement has left the relatives, the survivors flabbregasted, outraged and this not without a reason. Since Decembeer 1884 to June 24, 2010, nineteen judges presided over the trial .CBI that had submitted charge sheet on December 1,1987 had taken painstaking efforts to get the evidence from abroad, including working for the extradiction of its then Chairman Anderson to face the trial.
The accused had moved the apex court in the year 1996 against CJM framing charges aagainst them u/s 304 part (II) culpable homicide not amounting to murder), section 326 (voluntarily causing grivious hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and other sections of the IPC, it had ammended the charges to section 304 A and 336 (acts endangering life or personal safety of others and section 337 (causing hurt by endangering life or personal safety of others) and other sections of IPC.
The turbulent sequence of the events that has led to this deadly delay in the dispension of justice to the vicims is deplorable. The compenation negotiations leave much to be desired.Indian Government had demanded 3.3 billion US dollars as compensation to the vicitims, then suddenly it was settled at a meagre a 470 million US dollars. People would wish to know as to who worked out this package.
There have been allegations against the then Chief Minister Arjun Singh that he had facilitated the fleeing of Anderson back home.Fingers have been raised on PV Narasimha Rao who was then the home minister during Rajiv Gandhi's Premiership. However truth remains blurred. NDA alliance also had remained in power in the intervening period. Charges and counter charges by political leadership of ruling and opposition parties give no solace to the sufferers, for them the loss of their kith and kin compounded by the after effects of the tragedy is insurmountable.
The 70 odd MPs have demanded for the reopening of the case and about 1.5million people have sent post cards to Supreme Courtand demanding enhanced fair compensation to the victim's families. SC had ordered release of Rs.1500 crores with interest in 2004. Of the 10,29,517 compensation cases 4,55,151 have been rejected and a total compensation disbursed stood at a meagre Rs. 1548.93 crore.
USA has turned down Indian request for extradiction of Anderson , relationship of UCIL and Dow Chemicals is yet unclear. Clearing of toxic area, requiring vast amounts, is yet to be undertaken. USA plays double standards in international affairs In Mexico Gas tragedy it made British Petrolium Company to shell out 20 million dollars in compensation where only 11 casualities were reported. Bhopal which reported 15000 casualities, the victims are treaed shabbily and made to suffer the agony for 26 years yet awarded meagre compensation.
UPA government is filing acurative petition in the Supreme Court challenging the conversion of CBI charges. Core group of the GOI and GoM have proposed a better deal .Efforts for the extradiction of Anderson are afoot afresh. The 1989 agreement regarding compensation to victims should be scrapped for revising the compensastion package and steps for the extradiction of Anderson must be expedited.
Union Home Minister who heads the GoM is on record having said "The mandate is to look at relief, rehabilitation, remediation and all options open to Government after the Judgement of the trial Court on 7th June. Planning Commission has cleared Madhya Pradeh Government Rs. 982 Crore action plan for remediation and rehabilittion measure"
Most of us share the pain and travails of the victims of the Bhopal's disastrous tragedy, but the magnitude of the tragedy, its resultant fall out and the compensation to be awarded to them is (naturally) to be worked out by the people sitting in MP government, Union Government. Please join me in my prayers that those who are responsible to put heal on the victims rise above petty politics and do it in a fair and respectable wayAMEN.
Relief package should include giving employment to one member of the victim's family.Immediate clearance of toxic waste lying in the area. Sufficient monetary compensation to make their living comfortable. This is important as no measure can bring back the time lost for the victims and survivors' families.s
Satish Chandra Sharma
Cell: 9888 255 128
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