BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY

DAMODARAM DAMOD ARAM SANJIVA SANJI VAYY YYA A NATIONA NATIONAL L LAW UNIVERSITY  VISAKHAPATNAM, A.P., INDIA

Union Carbide Corora!ion ". Union o# India$ AIR %&&' SC '() *+oa- a/ Tra0ed12

La3 o# Tor!/ Dr. P .Sri De"i, M.L, P.D

Associate professor

Gulipalli Suraj 2015023 & Semester-01

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ACKNOWLEDE

I would like to put forward my heartfelt appreciatio to our respected !aw of "orts professor# professor# $rof% r% $% $% Sri e'i% for (i'i( me a (olde opportuity to take up this project re(ardi( )Union Carbide Corora!ion ". Union o# India$ AIR %&&' SC '() *+oa- a/ Tra0ed12 *% I ha'e tried my +est to collect iformatio a+out the project i 'arious possi+le ways to depict clear  picture a+out the (i'e project topic%

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Tab-e o# 4on!en!/ •

Ide, of Authorities

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Itroductio

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acts of the case

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Issues with the case

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.ules Applica+le

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/ud(met

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Aalysis ad Applicatio

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oclusio

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.efereces

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Inde5 o# A6!ori!ie/ Le0i/-a!ion/7/!a!6!e/7A4!/

ostitutio of Idia# 150 !aw of "orts Idia $eal ode# 10

Cases 4ao 's% io ar+ide66666666666 ar+ide666666666666666666666 66666666666666661 66666615 aparo '% ickma666666666 ickma66666666666666666666 66666666666666666666 66666666613 7%% 7ehta ' "he io of Idia 89leum Gas !eak case of ecem+er 15:66666614 $erre ' Apad; <1=6666666666 <1=66666666666666666666 666666666666666666 6666666613 .ylads '% letcher66666666666666666666666666666% 14 Sahu 's io ar+ide66666666666666666666666666 ar+ide666666666666666666666666666%% 6%% 1 5 "e,as "e,as ity .efiery case6666666666 case66666666666666666666 6666666666666666%%% 666666%%% 14 "e,as "e,as ity .efiery case <2005=666666666 <2005=66666666666666666666 666666666666666 6666 14 ited States '% arroll "owi( o% 15 %2d 1 82d% ir% 1>?:6666666666666613

Indian Penal Code Sectio 30> A..................................................................................................7 Sectios 33# 33?# ad 33 read with Sectio 35.......................................................7

Constitutional Provisions Articles# i%e% >A ad 51A...................................................................................8 $u+lic !ia+ility Isurace Act i 11....................................................................8

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In!rod64!ion @ I the early hours of ecem+er 3rd 1> >2 tos of deadly 7ethyl Isocyaides <7I= ad other  to,ic (ases escaped from I!s pesticide plat i 4hopal# 7$% A (o'ermet affida'it i 200 stated the leak caused 5#5#125 ijuries icludi( 3#>? temporary B partial ad appro,imately 300 se'erely ad permaetly disa+li( ijuries% All aroud the city of 4hopal# people were e,posed to this (as ad the immediate effects of  ihali( the (as were cou(hi(# 'omiti(# se'ere eye irritatio 8temporary +lidi(: ad a feeli( of suffocatio% 9'er 3000 people died immediately ad o'er 25000
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8a4!/ o# !e 4a/e9

1: Imm Immedia ediately tely after after the 4hopal 4hopal leak leak the (o'erme (o'ermet t of Idia Idia eacted eacted the 4hopal 4hopal (as leak  leak  Act15 <$rocessio of claims= uder this act they were the sole represetati'es of the 'ictims i ay case of compesatio a(aist a(a ist I!% 2: It the claimed S F 3%3 3 %3 +illio from  i SA i S courts% 3: Almost immediately the liti(atio was trasferred from the S to the Idia courts o the  +asis that I! was a )separate etity# owed# maa(es# ad operated e,clusi'ely +y Idia citiDes i Idia*% I'esti(atios +y the cetral +ureau of i'esti(atios had re'ealed the I! as well as  officials had +ee resposi+le for e(li(ece% >: I a out of court settlemet settlemet reached i 1# uio car+ide car+ide a(reed to pay S F >?0millio# >?0millio# which was actually just the isurace isurace amout of S F 350 millio  iterest% iterest% /ust 15H of the 3  +illio ori(ially claimed %i the lawsuit% 5: 4y the ed of 9cto+er 2003 compesatio was awarded to 55>5 for ijuries recei'ed ad 15310 sur'i'ors for those that were killed% "he a'era(e amout to the families of the dead was S F2200% : "hrou(h "hrou(hout out 10 the Idia Idia Supreme Supreme ourt ourt heard heard appeals appeals a(aist a(aist the settle settleme mett from from )acti'ist petitios*% ?: I 9ct 11 the Supreme ourt upheld the F>?0 millio# dismissi( ay other outstadi(  petitios that challe(ed the ori(ial decisio% : It also also reues reuested ted  ad its su+sidia su+sidiary ry 'olut 'olutari arily ly to fud fud a hos hospit pital# al# at a estima estimated ted F1?millio# to specifically treat the 'ictims of the disaster% : "he S Supreme ourt refused to hear a appeal of the decisio of the lower federal courts i 9cto+er 13 meai( that 'ictims of the 4hopal (as disaster could ot seek dama(es i a S court% 10: I 200# the secod circuit court of appeals i Jew Kork ity upheld the dismissal of the remaii( claims i the case of 4ao 's% io 1 ar+ide orporatio% ederal class actio liti(atio# Sahu 's% io2 ar+ide ad others is presetly pedi( i the secod circuit court of  appeals i Jew Kork% 11: "he liti(atio seeks dama(es for persoal ijury# medical moitori( ad ijucti'e relief i the matter of clea-up of driki( water supplies for residetial areas ear 4hopal plat% A 1 2

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related complait seeki( similar relief for property dama(e claimats is stayed pedi( of the outcome of the Sahu appeal +efore the federal district d istrict court i the souther district of Jew Kork  Kork 

I//6e/ 3i! !e 4a/e LChether precautios were take +y the Idia Go'ermet i terms of layi( dow strict re(ulatios for a factory of such atureM LChether proper care ad maiteace was take +y io ar+ide Idia !imited uder  the lawM LChether the commo people ha'e resources to idi'idually file cases a(aist io ar+ide orporatio i the ited StatesM Lwhether Lwhether the ited ited States States (a'e fair trial ad was it +etter +etter to attempt attempt the trial there as it had a much more de'eloped system for the !aw of "ortsM L Chether the Idia judicial system was euipped to hadle ha dle cases of this ma(itudeM LChether the dama(e should +e measured o a scale of fair compesatio L Chether there should +e a ui'ersal jurisdictio i the case of !aw of "orts# due to Glo+aliDatioM

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R6-e/ A-i4ab-e Ne0-i0en4e would +e oe of the mai forms of tort laws applica+le i this case alo( with loss spreadi(#

risk attitude# moral haDard# trasactios costs# ad cost miimiDatio or social efficiecy  Je(li(ece is a failure to e,ercise the care that a reasoa+ly ratioal perso would e,ercise i like circumstaces% "hrou(h ci'il liti(atio# if a ijured perso pro'es that aother perso acted e(li(etly to cause their ijury ijury## they ca reco'er reco'er dama(es to compe compesat satee for their their harm% harm% $ro'i $ro'i( ( a case case for  e(li(ece ca potetially etitle the ijured plaitiff to compesatio for  harm to their +ody# property# metal well-+ei( or fiacial status% "he proceedi(s were iitiated uder Se4!ion :;( A# ad Se4!ion/ ::<, ::=, and ::) read 3i! Se4!ion e(li(ece% Sectios 33# :> o# !e Indian Pena- Code %)<;% Sectio 30> A deals with causi( death +y e(li(ece% 33? ad Sectio 33 deal with the offeces of eda(eri( life ad persoal safety of others% "his is read alo( with Sectio 35 which deals with the aspect of commo itetio% 9e of the mai issues which the 4hopal Gas tra(edy raises is the issue of ?Ab/o-6!e -iabi-i!1@% "his issue was ela+orately discussed i the case of 7% 7ehta ' io of Idia 3% "he priciple of a+solute lia+ility states that whe a eterprise is e(a(ed i haDardous or iheretly da(erous idustry ad if ay harm results i accout of such acti'ity the the eterprise is a+solutely lia+le to compesate for such harm ad that it should +e o aswer to the eterprise to say that it had take all reasoa+le care ad that the harm occurred without ay e(li(ece o its part% I such idustries# the priciple of safe desi( would +e that oe does ot (uard merely a(aist the most  predicta+le# routie type of accidets% .ather oe tries to aticipate the worst that could happe# e'e if it is hi(hly ulikely# ad ot oly (uard a(aist it# +ut prepare to cotai it ad make sure that there is o way for that e'e to take place% "his is the priciple of a+solute lia+ility ad lia+ility ca +e fi,ed e'e if  there is o e(li(ece o part of the accused%

3

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I the case of a+solute lia+ility# e'e the defeces a'aila+le uder strict lia+ility would ot apply% "hus# e'e if the accidet is some freak icidet# lia+ility would still +e fi,ed% I such a case# it would +e o (ood defies to ar(ue that the direct or the pro,imate cause of the accidet was ot the carryi( of such haDardous acti'ity# +ut it actually is a Act of God or that it is due to some third party iter'etio% E'e if the ompay had take e,treme precautios to esure that such e'ets do ot take place# resposi+ility resposi+ility would still +e fi,ed o them% "his priciple of a+solute lia+ility i Idia e'ol'ed primarily +ecause of the awakei( that the 4hopal Gas isaster ad the 9leum Gas !eak case (a'e% "he 4hopal (as tra(edy i 1> tri((ered the passa(e of comprehesi'e en"ironen! -e0i/-a!ion in %&)< and P6b-i4 Liabi-i!1 In/6ran4e A4! in %&&%%

Idia $arliamet iserted two Ar!i4-e/, i.e. ()A and >%A  i the ostitutio of Idia i 1?# Article >A of the osti ostitut tutio io ri(ht ri(htly ly direct directss that that the State State shall shall edea' edea'our our to protec protectt ad impro' impro'ee the e'iromet ad safe(uard forests ad wildlife of the coutry% Similarly# clause 8(: of Article 51A imposes a duty o e'ery citiDe of Idia# to protect ad impro'e the atural e'iromet icludi( forests# lakes# ri'ers# ad wildlife ad to ha'e compassio for li'i( creatures% "he cumulati'e effect of Articles >A ad 51A 8(: seems to +e that the NState as well as the NcitiDes  +oth are ow uder costitutioal costitutioal o+li(atio to coser'e# percei'e# protect ad impro'e the e'iromet e'iromet% E'ery (eeratio owes a duty to all succeedi( (eeratios to de'elop ad coser'e the atural resources of the atio i the +est possi+le way

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/ud(met "he followi( 9rderB/ud(met of the ourt was passed@

osideri( the proceedi(s i the ourts of the ited States of America# the offers ad couter-offers made +etwee the parties duri( the 'arious proceedi(s ad i particular the eormity of huma sufferi( occasioed +y the 4hopal Gas disaster ad the pressi( ur(ecy to pro'ide immediate relief to 'ictims of the disaster# the court ordered the followi(@81: "he io ar+ide ar+ide orporatio orporatio shall pay a sum of U.S. Do--ar/ (=; to the io of Idia i full settlemet of all claims# ri(hts ad lia+ilities related to ad arisi( out of the 4hopal Gas disaster% 82: "he sum shall +e paid +y the io ar+ide orporatio orporatio  to the io of Idia on or be#ore :% Mar4, %&)&.

83:Al 83:Alll ci'il ci'il procee proceedi di(s (s relate related d to ad arisi arisi( ( out of the 4hopal 4hopal Gas disast disaster er shall shall here+y here+y stad stad trasferred to this ourt ad shall stad cocluded i terms of the settlemet# ad all crimial proceedi(s related to ad arisi( out of the disaster shall stad uashed where'er these may +e pedi(% A memoradum of settlemet shall +e filed +efore the court of the followi( order@1% $ursuat to the order passed o 1> e+ruary 1 the paymet of the sum of %S% F >?0 7illio directed +y the ourt to +e paid o or +efore 31 7arch# 1 will +e made i the maer followi(@ 8a: A sum sum of %S% F >25 7illio shall +e paid o or +efore 23 7arch# 1 +y io ar+ide orporatio to the io of Idia# less %S% F 5 7illio already paid +y the io ar+ide orporatio pursuat to the order dated ? /ue# 15 of /ud(e Oeea i the court proceedi(s take i the ited States of America% 8+: io ar+ide Idia !td% will pay o or +efore 23 7arch# 1 to the io of Idia the rupee eui'alet of %S% F >5 7illio at the e,cha(e rate pre'aili( at the date of paymet% 8c: "he aforesaid paymets shall +e made to the io of Idia as claimat ad for the +eefit of all 'ictims of the 4hopal Gas isaster uder the 4hopal Gas !eak isaster 8.e(istratio ad $rocessi( of  laims:# Scheme# 15% 2% upo full paymet of the sum

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8a: "he io of Idia ad the State of 7adhya $radesh shall take all steps which may i future +ecome ecessary i order to implemet ad (i'e effect to this order% 3% po full paymet i accordace with the ourtPs directios@ 8a: "he udertaki( (i'e +y io ar+ide orporatio shall stad dischar(ed# ad all order passed i re'isio therefrom shall also stad dischar(ed% 8+: Ay actio for cotempt iitiated a(aist cousel shall +e treated as dropped% >% "he amouts paya+le to the io of Idia uder these orders of the ourt shall +e deposited to the credit of the .e(istrar of this ourt i a 4ak uder directios to +e take from the ourt%

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Ana-1/i/ and A-i4a!io A-i4a!ion n "he case a(aist io ar+ide Idia !imited for the (as leak caused i the city of 4hopal is a major tort case% "he mai issues i'ol'ed are loss spreadi(# risk attitude# moral haDard# trasactios costs# ad cost miimiDatio or social efficiecy% ue to the hu(e loss of life that took place i 4hopal this case +ecomes a case i tort law that ca +e aalysed throu(h 'arious perspecti'es% osideri( the lar(e amout of dama(es paya+le pa ya+le +y I! this icidet ca also +e looked at throu(h the perspecti'e of law ad ecoomics to e,amie the formatio ad the impact of tort law ad the tort dama(es% It focuses maily o deterrece# payi( little attetio to justice# fairess# or distri+utio%

"his 'iew is a way to assess the costs ad +eefits that  was looki( as a outcome of setti( up a plat i Idia - io ar+ide Idia !td 8I!: - a su+sidiary of the io ar+ide orporatio 8:% It is ecessary to determie who +ears the +urde of the ijury ad if this ijury caused +y  are compesa+le co mpesa+le to what e,tet% "wo importat forms of tort law which ca +e used to aalyse are $ositi'istic Ecoomics ad the Jormati'e Ecoomics% $ositi'e ecoomics descri+es how le(al rules ifluece +eha'iour whereas ormati'e ecoomics  prescri+es cha(e that will icrease of le(al rules ad istitutios% istitutios% 9e reaso for ijustice to the people is that tort law is ude'eloped i Idia% "here has ha s  +ee little de'elopmet ad tort is little used ad has remaied lar(ely outside outside the cosciousess of Idia lawyers ad pu+lic% "here has +ee +e e little coectio +etwee tort law ad disasters i Idia% Chat typically happes i disasters is that the (o'ermet aouces that it is maki( e, (ratia paymets of a specified amout to the 'ictims% "he attri+utios of resposi+ility would +e doe +y Go'ermetal i'esti(atios# commissio of iuiry or a crimial prosecutio% Similarly# Similarly# i 4hopalPs case there has +ee isufficiet iuiry ad due to the iadeuate compesatio mechaisms the people were depri'ed of compesatio for their dama(es% I compariso to the America system# claimi( dama(es i tort law would ha'e +ee much simpler ad easier% If a disaster such as 4hopal had happeed i the ited States of America# it 12 | P a g e

would ha'e +ee much simpler to e,tract a su+statial amout of moey# ad possi+ly resulti( i io ar+idePs +akruptcy% Istead the case was tossed +ack to the Idia courts% I'esti(atio of the 4hopal catastrophe showed that the resposi+ility of +oth the Go'ermet as well as the compay wet far too +eyod the mere e(lect of +asic safety measures% I a aalysis i the 4ritish trade pu+licatio $roject 7aa(eme t# a J e,pert eumerated 1 factory shortcomi(s# 13 operatioal errors# 1 failures i commuicatio ad 2 short comi(s% A multi-+illio multi-+illio dollar reputed compay like  shocked the society with the mistakes it committed% "he cooli( system which was supposed to keep the 7I at a temperature of Dero de(rees elsius to pre'et a reactio had +ee too tured off si, moths  +efore the accidetQ same had +ee doe for the +urer i the tower for +uri( off the poiso% 4oth steps had +ee take with appro'al of the compay headuarters% "hese are the factors that e'etually lead to the ufortuate disaster%

"he mai accused i the 4hopal Gas !eak case# E9 of  at that time# Carre Aderso was shielded +y the S Go'ermet ad was a fu(iti'e from law# while the ? Idia accused of I! were seteced to 2 years imprisomet more tha a uarter of a cetury after  the disaster# +ut immediately released o +ail amouts of F2#100 each% 9 the issue of e,traditio of Carre Aderso# it is our opiio that the %S% (o'ermet caot +e wholly or oly +e  +lamed for refusi( to e,tradite him# sice may pre-disaster facts were ot produced +y the  prosecutio# to esta+lish the (uilt of the accused% "he half-hearted maer i which the Idia state has pursued this whole affair is disappoiti(% "he delay ad the maer i which the Go'ermet has hadled the issue is othi( +ut a mockery of justice ad if thi(s are ot set ri(ht# we feel that# the 'ictims of this ufortuate tra(edy will e'er (et the justice they actually deser'e%

"he S ourts ourts did ot ecoura(e liti(atios liti(atios a(aist  o America America soil at all% E'e the cases that were re(istered re(istered e'etually e'etually fell apart# ad the same is destied destied to happe to a few which are pedi( appeals% or the disaster disaster of such a ma(itude# the compesatio compesatio paid ca +e said to +e least satisfactory ad isufficiet for the 'ictims% Althou(h it is ar(ued# that the field of  13 | P a g e

Idia "ort law was ot de'eloped to a mature e,tet +ack i 1># +ut still# the fi(ure of the e'etual compesatio awarded does ot match up to the (ra'eess of o f the case e'e remotely%

"he Idia /udiciary tried to make a stro( case followi( the 4hopal Gas "ra(edy# 8io ar+ide ompay 's% io of Idia: to eforce (reater amout of protectio (i'e to its  people% "he Do4!rine Do4!rine o# Ab/o-6!e Liabi-i!1  ca +e said to +e a stro( le(al tool a(aist ro(ue corporatios that were e(li(et towards health risks for the pu+lic% "his le(al doctrie was much more powerful tha the le(al octrie of Strict !ia+ility% "his meat that the defaulter  could +e held lia+le for e'e third party errors whe the pu+lic was at a realistic risk% "his could esure stricter compliace to stadards that were meat to safe(uard the pu+lic%

Social justice theorists cosider tort law as a de'ice for correcti( im+alaces i political  powers% I a corrupt society as IdiaPs# ruli( political parties take ad'ata(e of their power ad (et all the ecessary pro'isios for a eterprise like ar+ide which would readily fud their   party i retur% As a result these iterests of parties pursue self-iterest at the e,pese of pu+lic  +y produci( da(erous products ad hidi( critical iformatio a+out their da(erousess% da (erousess% 4y aidi( citiDes with the power to sue corporatios for miscoduct outside of the le(islati'e ad re(ulatory process# tort law ser'es to correct this im+alace of power%

Ne0-i0en4e

 Je(li(ece is the failure to take adeuate care ad this care reuires oe to take cost justified precautios% $recautios ca +e cost-justified whee'er their cost is less tha the costs of the harm riskedQ +y ot taki( precautios# discouted +y the pro+a+ility of the harmPs occurrece% 9ce this cocept of e(li(ece is uderstood as the failure to take the cost justified  precautios it is ecessary to decide dec ide what decides imposi( lia+ility o those who ha'e failed to take these precautios% "he ecoomic aalysis primarily relies o this cocept of e(li(ece% I 14 | P a g e

coclusio# a (reat le'el of e(li(ece e(li(ec e +y ar+ide ad its failure to take cost justified precautios led to this disaster is see% io ar+ide should +e held lia+le for all the dama(es to the people of 4hopal%%%

 Je(li(ece has mai 3 elemets@-

1% uty of are uty uty of care care is a le(al o+li(atio which is imposed o a idi'idual reuiri( the followi( of a stadard stadard of  of reasoa+le reasoa+le care  care while performi( ay acts that could harm others%i the ear future% I the E(lish case Caaro ". Di4Ban  <10=> the three fold priciples of duty of care were were itr itrod oduce uced% d% Rarm Rarm mu must st +e 81: 81: reas reaso oa+l a+ly y fore forese seea ea+l +lee 82: 82: ther theree mu must st +e a relatioship of pro,imity +etwee the plaitiff ad defedat ad 83: it must +e Pfair# just ad reasoa+leP to impose lia+ility% Rowe'er# these act as (uidelies for the courts i esta+lishi( a duty of careQ much of o f the priciple is still at the discretio of jud(es% jud(es% 5 "his priciple was also used i ;Perre " Aand ; <1= % I this case io car+ide is (uilty of e(li(ece specifically i the matter of uty of  care as the harm that was (oi( to happe due to lack of maiteace was reasoa+ly foreseea+le% Also Also there was pro,imity +etwee the plaitiff ad defedat ad of course it was o+'iously fair ad reasoa+le to impose lia+ility o % "hus accordi( to this  priciple  had a le(al o+li(atioBduty towards the people peop le of 4hopal ad the coutry cou try as a whole ad esure that o harm came to ay of them% 2% 4rea 4reach ch of uty uty After it is esta+lished that the defedat owed a duty to the plaitiffBclaimat# the matter  of whether or ot that duty was +reached must +e settled% 4reach of duty is ot limited to  professioals or persos uder writte or oral cotractQ all mem+ers of society ha'e a duty to e,ercise reasoa+le care toward others ad their property% A perso# who e(a(es 4 5

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i acti'ities that pose a ureasoa+le risk toward others ad their property that actually results i harm# +reaches their duty of reasoa+le care% Implemeti( this a+o'e priciple it is clear that  is (uilty of +reach of duty as it did ot e,ercise reasoa+le care e'e thou(h they were aware a+out the risks% ir% 1>?: is a decisio from Uni!ed S!a!e/ ". Carro-- To3in0 Co % 15 %2d 1 82d% ir% 1>?: the 2d ircuit ourt of Appeals that Appeals that proposed a test to determie the stadard of care for  care for  the tort of e(li(ece e(li(ece%% I this case a ship sak due to proper stadards were ot followed ad the e(li(ece of the authorities who were resposi+le for setti( up the +arra(es o the docks% 3% ama(es ama(es place a moetary 'alue o the harm doe% 9ce +reack of suty is cofirmed what remais is compesati( the perso the 'ictim% I this case#  was pro'e to +e (uilty of +reach of duty ad was lia+le to pay dama(es to 'ictims%

I M.C. Me!a " Te Union o# India O-e6 a/ LeaB 4a/e o# De4eber %&)>  the Supreme ourt of Idia o+ser'ed that )where a eterprise is e(a(ed i a haDardous or iheretly da(erous acti'ity ad harm results to ayoe o accout of a accidet i the operatio of such haDardous or iheretly da(erous acti'ity resulti(# for e,ample# i escape of to,ic (as the eterprise is strictly ad a+solutely lia+le to compesate all those who are affected +y the accidet ad such lia+ility is ot su+ject to ay of the e,ceptios which operate o perate 'is--'is the tortious priciple of strict lia+ility uder the rule i R1-and/ ". 8-e!4er =%* It was also poited out that the measure of compensation for such cases must be co-related to the magnitude and capacity of the enterprise because such compensation must ha'e a de!erren! e##e4! % "he lar(er

ad more prosperous the eterprise# the (reater must +e the amout of compesatio paya+le +y +y it for the harm caused o accout of a accidet i the carryi( o of the haDardous or iheretly da(erous acti'ity +y the eterprise% "hus was e'ol'ed the priciple of A+solute lia+ility i Idia "ort "ort law# which ca +e said to +e directly related to the recet occurri( of the 4hopal leak at that time% Rere i 7 7ehta case the priciple of A+solute !ia+ility was itroduced which ow forms the +asis of our case which is io ar+ide '% io of Idia% Also i 6 7

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.ylads '% letcher letcher the cocept cocep t of deterret effect which was itroduced also forms a importat aspect of the 4hopal Gas "ra(edy% "he Te5a/ Ci!1 Re#iner1 4a/e *';;>2 # which is much o the lies of the 4hopal case# saw widespread attetio (i'e to it% It was i this case that the 4hopal Icidet was metioed ad liked le(ally as a similar e'et% 4$ paid out compesatios ad fies amouti( to more tha S F1%5 +illio for a accidet# which was just a trifle# compared to the disaster of 4hopal% $ersoal ijury cases were also heard# ad awarded compesatios# as it is a well-kow fact that the field of "orts is well de'eloped ad awareess to seek compesatio for persoal le(al ijuries widespread i the S% It reiforced i the facts that you caot (et away with doi( a wro( o the people of the ited States# +ut if a S orporatio ad S citiDes are i'ol'ed i wro(s a(aist the people of other de'elopi( atios# the same strict measures otherwise udertake are# i'aria+ly# 'ery slack% 4ut for fi,i( the lia+ility i 4hopal# the suspicious role of the Go'ermet of Idia i aidi( a idi(  ad I! also caot +e ruled out%

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Con4-6/ion "he mai setime setimett at the +e(ii +e(ii( ( of our study study was the feeli( feeli( of anger towards Union Carbide and the government of the United States +ut as we wet further ito our study of the

case# we felt that the  government of India played a huge role i it# ri(ht from the cause of the disaster to the delayed justice to the 'ictims% As they say the rich are (etti( richer ad the poor are (etti( poorer# seemed to +e the case% "o ela+orate o this# Idia has a history of a socio judicial system of casteism# the people most affected i this catastrophe were from the lower caste 8shudras:%"hey were the poor from ear+y 'illa(es who had come ad settled aroud the factory i the hope of fidi( work# i fact iroically may were employed at the factory for odd jo+s ad also at the maa(ers homes etc% "here were so may lapses o our part# starti( from allowi( the factory i such a locatio i  +hopal8ri(ht i the middle of tow:e'e thou(h the 7uicipal orporatio had disappro'ed of it% "he to ot ha'e laid dow strict ad stri(et rules for a factory of such a 'olatile ature %"he oce the accidet happeed ad the E9 # 7r Carre Aderso# came dow for the heari(# the the chief miister of 7$# 7r Arju Si(h# had him arrested # for the sake of pu+licity as electios were aroud the corer# to (ai some electoral +eefit # to show that he was (oi( to (et them justice# of course he was immediately released o +ail# +ut that scared the  officials fore'er # they were scared of the coseueces of setti( foot o Idia soil# which led to further  delay i heari(s of the case% urther the compesatios were decided without cosulti( the 'ictims ad years after the compesatio was awarded howe'er mea(re has yet ot de the li(ht of day +y may cocered% 30 years after the catastrophe catastrophe we ca still still see the effects effects of the Gas !eak i 4hopal# yet justice has eluded them% So may (o'ermets ha'e cha(ed ad they ha'e all used this tra(edy to the ad'ata(e ad'ata(e of their 'ote couts couts +ut ot oe has +ee a+le to +ri( the dues to the 'ictims% 'ictims% E'ery opportuity has +ee milked +y e'ery do (ooder to their ad'ata(e +ut horrors of 1> still li'e

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o i the form of 'ictims# pollutio ad city that may e'er +e more famous for aythi( more tha its tra(ic failure% I this day ad a(e of Glo+aliDatio# the !aw of "orts ad a ui'ersal jurisdictio +ecome more rele'at tha e'er +efore% So as to a'oid compaiesBcorporatios from comi( ito a coutry for  their +eefit ad to ru out at the first si( of trou+le% As did # they were i a domiat  positio as Idia was i a 'ery po'erty stricke state ad they were +ri(i( i pesticide maki( techolo(y that would help i the (rowth of wheat ad other a(ricultural produce that was drou(ht resistat # +ut with the use of a lot of pesticide% Ce were i a hurry to (et this started ad the compay took ad'ata(e of that ad the rela,ed attitude of the (o'ermet plus the later  losses faced +y the compay# led to the ufortuate icidet% "here has to +e a clear law which makes sure that its applicatio holds them lia+le for their  actios ad the weaker sectio i the society are ot e,ploited# a+used ad left to their fate% As we kow that the most affected i this case were the poor slum dwellers aroud the factory# may of whom worked e'e for the factory maa(ers etc% at their homes ad also may who did odd odd jo+s jo+s for for the the fact factory ory%% reen Pea4e and Ane/!1 In!erna!iona-   played a hu(e rule i  +ri(i(  to the task ad uestioi( the S (o'ermet o how they were cooperati( i these matters ad also what kid of (lo+al cooperatio policies are reuired I the e'et of such a lar(e scale disaster as 4hopal# the uestios like who is ri(ht ad who is wro( ad who was e(li(et ad who was ot +ecome totally irrele'at i the pli(ht of  thousads of people who (et affected a ffected i oe si(le i(ht% "he tra(edy is still cosidered to +e the worlds worst idustrial disaster% If we Goo(le it# it still shows up as oe of the top 10 ma-made disasters i the world# ri'alli( !odoPs Oiller fo(# the .ussia Juclear $lat e,plosio i hero+yl# etc% "o pre'et such e'ets from occurri( i the future# the (o'ermet should thorou(hly check  ad re(ulate such idustries% "hey should +e placed uder costat sur'eillace ad the acti'ities of such idustries should +e moitored at least oce i e'ery si, moths% Ay kid of repair i ay of the machies or euipmets should +e immediately atteded to% "he (o'ermet should take it upo itself to make sure that e'erythi( is fuctioi( properly%

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Apart from this# the (o'ermet should also make sure that there is a proper mechaism for  compesatio to the 'ictims% It should esure speedy justice ad should make sure that proper  relief is (i'e to the 'ictims% It is totally ujustifia+le to lea'e e'e a si(le 'ictim without pro'idi( relief% Ropefully# such icidets should e'er occur a(ai# ad e'e if they do# we should ot for(et the lessos from 4hopal ad we should make sure that ay law cappi( the limit o the lia+ility of such lar(e ma(itude disasters should +e declared as ucostitutioal% "he iitial char(es a(aist the accused should ot ha'e +ee uashed sice the accused deser'ed a trial uder Sectio 30> $art II% E'erythi( ow depeds o the petitio filed +y the %4%I% to recosider the 1 jud(met% A curati'e petitio ca oly +e allowed i rarest of rare cases# the  +urde is o the (o'ermet to pro'e to the ourt that declii( to recosider the 1 jud(met would +e a(aist the judicial ite(rity ad would show irremedia+le ijustice ad (i'e out a +ad messa(e to the society% 9wi( to the maer i which the (o'ermet has hadled the case so far# the 'ictims caot +ut wait i a(uish to see whether this petitio is oly a illusio of hope or a small part of justice which they mi(ht recei'e% rece i'e%

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http@BBe%wikipedia%or(Bwik http@BBe%wik ipedia%or(BwikiB4hopalTdisaste iB4hopalTdisaster  r  http@BBwww%(reepeace%or( http@BBwww %(reepeace%or(BusaBeBcampai(sB BusaBeBcampai(sBto,icsBjustice to,icsBjustice-for-+hopalB -for-+hopalB http@BBwww%idiakao http@BBwww %idiakaoo%or(Bdocfra(m o%or(Bdocfra(metB5>00?BMform etB5>00?BMformIputUuioH20c IputUuioH20car+ideH20corporat ar+ideH20corporatio io http@BBwww%hidusta http@BBwww %hidustatimes%comBidia-ew times%comBidia-ewsB+hopalBpael sB+hopalBpael-'isits-+mhrc-i-+h -'isits-+mhrc-i-+hopal-ot-happy opal-ot-happy-with-withfacilitiesBarticle1-125???0%asp, http@BBwww%preser'earticles%comB2011011>32?3Bcase-study-of-+hopal-(as-leak-disaster%html +ooB/

4utterworths ommo !aw Series 8"he !aw of A7AGES# "9."# JEG!IGEJE & 9J".A": !e,isJe,is 4utterworth 4utterworthss !e,isJe,is Vuick .eferece Guide W !aw of "orts

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