Bhopal: More than 25 years after the world's worst industrial disaster struck Bhopal, a lower court in the city will pronounce its verdict on the Bhopal gas tragedy on Monday.
However, those fighting for justice are sceptical about it being delivered as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has repeatedly failed to produce the former Union Carbide CEO and prime accused in the case Warren Anderson before the court.
"Frankly speaking, I'm not expecting anything out of this judgment. They are treating the worst ever industrial disaster like a traffic accident. So, what can be expected? A maximum of two years imprisonment or may be they will get away by paying some fine if they are proved guilty," says Satti Nath Sarangi, one of the activists fighting for the victims.
On Monday, the court will read the judgement on charges framed under sections 304(A), 336 and 337 of the Indian Penal Code which carry a maximum punishment of two years.
The disaster took place on December 2, 1984 after tonnes of methyl isocyanate gas leaked from a chemical plant owned by a US-based company Union Carbide Corporation. It claimed 15,000 lives and injured half a million people.
Over the years, 178 prosecution witnesses have deposed before the court and the defence team has presented five former employees of the company as witnesses.
In 2009, even a non-bailable warrant was issued against Warren Anderson. However, the CBI could not process it. So far, no one from Union Carbide America and Union Carbide Eastern Hong Kong has appeared in an Indian Court.
CBI had chargesheeted Union Carbide Corporation (UCC), Union Carbide (India) Limited, Union Carbide (Eastern) Hong Kong, UCC chairman Warren Anderson and eight Indian officials for the tragedy on December 1, 1987. But, in 1989, the government decided to drop criminal charges without taking the victims into confidence.
Also, in 1996, the Supreme Court reduced the charges against eight Indian officials to 304 (A) which is death by negligence from 304 (II). It carries a maximum punishment of up to two years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000.
The search for justice for the Bhopal gas victims will continue to remain a hopeless idea irrespective of what the verdict in the criminal case is. Also there is no escape from fighting for justice because the gas that killed thousands 25 years ago has hit the survivors in their genes and no one really knows how many generations will feel the effects.
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