Bhopal gas tragedy: SC to hear in April Centre’s plea for enhanced compensation

The Union government has filed a curative petition seeking additional ₹7,844 crore from Union Carbide and other firms for paying compensation to the victims.

A Supreme Court Bench on Monday agreed to hear in April the Central government’s curative petition seeking ₹7,844 crore as additional fund from the successor firms of Union Carbide for giving compensation to the victims of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy.

The Bench comprised Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna.

The Centre is seeking a direction to Union Carbide and other firms for giving the additional fund over and above the earlier settlement amount of $470 million as compensation to the victims.

Over 3,000 people died in the tragedy due to release of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas on the night of December 2–3, 1984, at the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant.