8.6.10

Justice is buried....


More than 25 years after a deadly gas leak from a Union Carbide plant caused the world’s worst industrial disaster, which has since killed 15,134 and affected 5.74 lakh people, a local court held former chairman of UC’s India arm, Keshub Mahindra, and six others guilty under bailable sections of IPC and sentenced them to two years in prison. The accused were fined about Rs 1 lakh each and immediately granted bail. The seven held guilty were all officials of Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) and included its former vice-chairman Vijay Gokhale. In a verdict that political parties and victims’ organizations called a travesty of justice, the accused were pronounced guilty under sections 304 (A) (death by negligence), 336 (endangering life and safety), 337 (causing hurt) and 338 (grievous hurt) of the IPC. The court of chief judicial magistrate P Mohan Tiwari had been sealed with police officials barring mediapersons and representative of victims’ organizations from witnessing the proceedings. The case dates back to December 1, 1987, when the CBI filed its chargesheet in the criminal case before the court of the CJM Bhopal. The 12 accused included Union Carbide Corporation, Union Carbide (Eastern) Hong Kong, UCIL and top officials of the three companies. The chief accused was chairman of Union Carbide Corporation USA, Warren Anderson, who did not come to face trial in India. Neither did Union Carbide Corporation or Union Carbide (Eastern) Hong Kong. CBI termed them absconders. This is the first time anyone has been criminally convicted for the disaster. On the intervening night of December 2-3, 1984, 40 tonnes of toxic methyl isocyanate gas had leaked from a tank in the Union Carbide plant located in a thickly populated area of Bhopal, exposing more than 5 lakh people to its deadly effects. As part of the compensation deal with Union Carbide, the Centre decided to drop all criminal charges in 1989. The case was revived in 1991 on the plea of the victims. Reacting to the judgment, Union law minister Veerappa Moily said, “This is one case where justice is delayed and practically denied. I would say justice is buried... There is a need for fast-track courts.’’

1 comment:

Ninad said...

Sometimes I am ashamed to call myself an Indian. This is one such.