Bhopal gas tragedy: matter delayed as Justice Bhat recuses

The hearing of the Centre’s curative plea seeking enhanced compensation for the 1984 Bhopal Gas tragedy victims has been delayed yet again, as Justice Ravindra Bhat recused himself from the matter. Reportedly, he was the counsel for the Union government in the same case in 1989. During the hearing, Justice Arun Mishra stated that Chief Justice SA Bobde would decide the composition of the new 5-judge bench.
In its 1989 judgment, the SC had ordered Union Carbide to pay a compensation of $470 million. However, the Centre contended that this was based on a wrong number of injuries and deaths. Centre's curative plea mentions that 5,295 people died and 70,000 suffered injuries in the tragedy. The Centre has sought additional compensation of Rs.7,844 crore, along with stricter punishment for the convicted Union Carbide executives, who had full knowledge of the fatal design flaws of the Bhopal plant.