Bhopal Gas Disaster Case: A Never-Ending Saga of Delays and Injustice

The Bhopal gas disaster criminal case, spanning over 14 years, continues to be plagued by delays and legal maneuvering. The current district judge, Manoj Shrivastava, is the eighth judge to hear the appeal, highlighting the persistent obstacles to a final verdict. The defense counsel for two convicts, Anirban Roy, has repeatedly sought a retrial, claiming the CBI investigation was flawed and the charges against his clients are unfounded. These tactics, according to the Bhopal Group of Information & Action (BGIA), are deliberate attempts to delay the proceedings and prevent the convicts from serving their sentences. The case has been stalled for months due to these legal challenges, raising concerns about the possibility of the convicts and survivors passing away before justice is served. The tragic reality is that three of the eight convicted Union Carbide officials have already died during the pendency of the appeal, underscoring the urgency of a swift resolution. Despite the judge’s commitment to hear the case twice a month, the future of this long-running case remains uncertain, leaving the victims and their families in a state of perpetual limbo.