BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY OF 2/12/1984 JUSTICE NOT ONLY DENIED BUT MADE MOCKERY OF

December 2 / 1984. Saw biggest industrial disaster of the world. It is a black date in our history. As it is evident that more then 15000 people and several thousand animals died, several hundred thousand suffered gas effect and are still suffering. Both the state and central govts were shy in admitting numbers of casualty. The state govt. failed in its duty no body knew what is cooking in their back yard. Hospitals were not informed of any ante dotes in case of any accident or gas leakage, what were the concerned departments doing. No proper inspection was done. Why no action was taken against the chief minister whose govt. failed in its duty .Minister responsible for commerce or companies affair was also equally responsible Officers posted in Bhopal at the time of gas leak and other officers may be prosecuted, strong action may be taken against them it is not too late.

        In this case every department failed to do their duty, no proper examination was conducted by joint teams of scientists and company officials. Criminal negligence was done by both the govt.as well as Indian and US management of the company. Why politicians and officials got away Scot free. Very little sentence was given to UCIL officials.

  Every thing is shrouded in misery; every thing is secret on one pretext or the other.

Very small amount was paid to the victims, it is said that only interest was paid and the original amount is still with the govt .people were fooled and many agents exploited the poor, red tape took its share. See the reaction on the judgment given in this case in following paras.

“It would be extraordinary for some thing like this to happen in the US. There is firm conviction here that justice delayed is justice denied. Regardless of the merits of any decision you have to decide it quickly enough so that the decision has consequences” said Professor Douglos Baired of the University of Chicago, Law School.

   Kith Tyrell of Pesticide Action Network, UK said “Criminal negligence is always difficult to prove but I find it unbelievable that it has taken more than 25 years, it’s a scandal. It would not happen in UK.Management in US has got away Scot free. Can’t imagine that would happen in the UK.

  Mark Senant of Industrial Risk Campaign, France Nature Environment said “It was a great shock for us to hear that for biggest industrial disaster in history ever, the conclusion of the judges was not at all matching up to the extent of damage. Neither the sentence nor the fine is adequate for the catastrophe. It’s not enough for the pain the victims and their family have suffered.”

   International agencies cried foul, what the successive governments did in these 25 years? It took quarter of century to decide the matter in developed countries it was matter for months only. In this case our system of justice stands as failed with due respects to our judiciary system. Will we as victims ever get our compensation in time, many of us already gone and many will follow.

International media should come forward to press the governments, no body with money and power in the world could make mockery of the laws of the land.