An expert panel headed by the Madhya Pradesh additional solicitor-general, Vivek Tankha, will be looking into the legal aspects concerning the Madhya Pradesh trial court verdict on the Bhopal gas tragedy case.
The state government has set up the five-member expert panel following all-round criticism of the trial court’s verdict.
Mr Tankha told agencies on Friday that the panel would examine what new evidence has come up in the case as also how it can be handled within the legal framework.
Mr Tankha also said that the work that has been assigned to it involves complex issues on law.
“It is not an easy task. The records involve complex issues on law. All the members are studying (them),” he told agencies when asked what the legal recourse available was following the trial court’s order.
However, he said that the committee’s recommendation will be given to the state government within the next 10 days.
Mr Tankha also said that the matter of issue of seeking a review of the trial court’s judgment.
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CIA: India hastened his release
New Delhi, June 11: The Central government had hastened the release of the then Union Carbide chief Warren Anderson from house arrest, according to US’ CIA.
“The Central government’s quick release of the Union Carbide chairman from house arrest yesterday, however, suggests that New Delhi believes state officials were overly eager to score political points against the company...” a CIA document declassified in January, 2002 says.
According to the East Asia Brief for December, 1984, issued on December 8 that year, “with Indian national elections just over two weeks away, both state and Central government politicians are trying to deflect blame from themselves to the subsidiary and to wring compensation from its parent company.”
It said public outcry almost certainly will force the new government to “move cautiously” in developing future foreign investment. —PTI