Bhopal gas tragedy: SC dismisses Centre’s plea seeking added compensation

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to entertain a curative petition filed by the Centre demanding an additional compensation of Rs 7,400 crore from the successor firms of Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) for the victims of 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy.
A five-judge bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said the Centre’s plea is not maintainable in law and it also lacked merits on the facts of this case.
The bench said the Centre’s claim for a top up on compensation for the Bhopal gas tragedy victims has no foundation and added that either settlement is valid or set aside where it is vitiated by fraud.
“No such fraud has been impleaded by the Union of India and their only contention relates to number of victims and injuries…,” noted the bench, dismissing the Centre’s plea.
Also Read Bhopal gas tragedy: If govt feels victims are entitled, pay them, SC tells Centre The bench added that the responsibility was on the Union of India to make good the deficiency in the compensation and the failure to take insurance policies is gross negligence on the part of the Centre. Detailed judgment in the matter will be uploaded later in the day.
On January 12, the top court had reserved its verdict on the Centre’s curative petition seeking an additional Rs 7,400 crore from the successor firms of UCC for extending greater compensation to the victims.