Sangathan allowed to inspect Bhopal gas hospital accounts

New Delhi, Apr 12 (UNI) The Supreme Court today permitted Bhopal Gas Pidit Mahila Udyog Sangathan to inspect within two weeks the audited accounts of Bhopal Memorial Hospital for the period 1998 to 2003-2004, to find out if there is any bungling in the accounts.

A Bench comprising Mr Justice B N Srikrishna and Mr Justice Lokeshwar Singh Panta while adjourning the matter till May 2 directed that if nothing wrong is found in the memorial account, then an order for release of Rs 37.65 crores shall be passed on that day itself.

The petitioner counsel Indira Jaisingh alleged that there had been misappropriation of funds on massive scale and accounts have not been kept for the period 1996 to 1998.

The amount of Rs 37.65 crores is lying attached in the court of magistrate in Bhopal, and the amount was attached to secure the presence of Union Carbide Corporation chairman in a criminal case, and he has since been declared an absconder.

It may be noted that in December 1984, 2000 people were killed and over 20,000 were injured, when a poisonous gas MIC leaked from UCC unit in Bhopal.

Bhopal Memorial Hospital Trust is headed by former Chief Justice of India Justice A M Ahmedi. The hospital is exclusively meant for the treatment of Bhopal Gas tragedy victims.

Mr R K Jain appearing for trust however, pressed for immediate release of funds as it was required for increasing cost of maintenance of hospital.

The Court shall also hear an application filed by the petitioner seeking to set aside the compensation amount of 440 million dollars arrived at between the UCC and the Central government on the grounds that it was totally inadequate keeping in view the loss of life and property.

The agreement was chalked out under the supervision of the Constitution Bench headed by the then Chief Justice R S Pathak.

The Court will also consider whether this application challenging the compensation amount should be referred to a constitution bench.

Rs 518 crore is already lying with the hospital trust.

The Court in its order noted within course in order to remove misgivings about the accounts, the advocate on record for the Petitioner Sangathan and the chartered accountant to be appointed by the petitioner shall be permitted to inspect the audited accounts submitted by the memorial trust in sealed cover in the Court.

UNI AKS/SC AD DS1240