knowledge has no horizons

“Delayed justice is denied justice” is a saying, whereas justice itself is denied for the Bhopal-gas-leak tragedy victims. Twenty-three years of trial, 178 witnesses and 3.008 reports – all against the eight accused in the case that caused thousands to die and lakhs to get worst affected – are all for just two year imprisonment and a lakh rupees fine. No doubt, yesterday turned out to be yet another black day for the Bhopal victims.

The people of Bhopal at the night of December 2, 1984 might not have known that there would be no dawn for them. They might not have assumed the Union Carbide Plant in their area turned out their life-takers. Those that escaped with incorrigible injuries might not have thought of the worse effects to being passed on to the next generation to come. And, above all, the survivors of the tragedy might not have imagined such and inhumane judgement as and at the end.

Any government is formed for the sake of the people, and its duty is to ensure their safe livelihood. And courts in a democracy are to act as the saviours of the rights of the people. No one would contradict with this, I hope. In the case of Bhopal gas-leak tragedy, either denied to do its intended duties. The prime accused of this case, Warren Anderson, is all free in island, leading there a luxurious life. What is humiliating are the events after the tragedy. It took four days for police to arrest Anderson and a few hours for the judge to issue bail, and then no look back for him for the trial, and now is announced “absconding”. The government might have evinced the same interest as it has now shown for probing Hedley, the man assumed to be the brain behind the Mumbai attacks.

While the judgement of two-year imprisonment for the seven (the one kicked the bucket in course of the trail) shocked the survivors of the tragedy, allowing them to go on bail of Rs. 25,000 added fuel to the fire. And this frustrated many that strove for justice (!) for the victims. That imagining a trial that is conducted for almost one quarter of a century, probing the causes of thousands of deaths and lakhs of victims, knowing the culprits, with 178 people examined and cross-examined, 3008 reports produced was ended with 100 pages of judgement giving the accused just two year imprisonment and one lakh fine, and at once issuing them bail may tickle one’s funny bones.

Judgement of court should not be subject to criticism. Yet the yesterday judgement of the court of the chief judicial magistrate seemed to have failed to prove the truth behind the fact “All is equal before law”. And probably for the reason are covered the eyes. As the union law minister Veerappa Moiley said, "This is one such case where justice is delayed and practically denied. I would like to say justice is buried”. It is his “concern” that it should not to be repeated. And most of Indians share with his “concern”.

One of the surviving victims of the tragedy Hameetha Bee opines that the accused are to be hanged on, and her opinion, I think, is worth considering.