merisarkar news service
New Delhi, August 31, 2010
SC issued notices to all accused
The Supreme Court on Tuesday has issued notices to all the accused in Bhopal gas leak case on a petition by the CBI seeking to restore against them the stringent charge of culpable homicide, which attracts a maximum punishment of 10 years' jail term.
14 years after it had diluted charges in the Bhopal gas leak case, the Supreme Court on Tuesday virtually reopened its own judgement that led to lighter punishment of two years imprisonment for the accused, including former Union Carbide India Chairman Keshub Mahindra.
The court sought response from the seven accused on the CBI plea seeking restoration of the stringent charge of culpable homicide, which attracts a maximum punishment of 10 years' jail term, against them for the world's worst industrial disaster that left over 15,000 people dead and thousands maimed.
In chamber proceedings, a bench comprising Chief Justice S H Kapadia and Justices Altamas Kabir and R V Raveendran, issued notices on the curative petition filed by CBI seeking recall of the apex court's 1996 judgement that had diluted the offence.
India's top law officer Attorney General G.E. Vahanvati and other various organizations fighting for the welfare of victims of the gas tragedy have welcomed the court’s decision.
