Bhopal Gas Tragedy

Perhaps no words are sufficient to deplore the court verdict on Bhopal Gas tragedy. Sentences of two-year imprisonment and a fine of one lack rupees for each of the seven accused, that too after judicial proceedings of long 25 years, is not only sheer mockery but also grave insults to injuries of the victims. Way back in 1984 leakage of lethal gas from fertilizer factory of Union Carbide, an US based company, took toll of thousands of lives and maimed many more for life. The deadly gas didn’t even spare the babies in mothers’ wombs who were born deformed and diseased. When such was the magnitude of human tragedy, so meager is the punishment meted out to those whose negligence was responsible for this macabre incident. What’s more, the Chairman of Union Carbide fled India to US, now reportedly residing in New York, got off Scot free. Even his name didn’t figure in the legal proceedings. Incidentally, CBI in whom normally many of us repose all faith and believe it can solve however complicated a case may be investigated this Bhopal gas tragedy. It may be pointed out judges pronounce judgments and quantum of punishment based on evidences put forward to them. If the evidences are so framed that they warrant lighter punishment, judges have nothing to do. So it’s CBI to blame for their inability to handle the case properly and judiciously for reasons best known to them as a result of which the victims of one of the greatest industrial disasters was virtually denied justice after quarter of a century. What can be more unfortunate than such a farcical judgment?