SC stays MP order on gas tragedy victims' children

New Delhi, Jan 17: The Supreme Court today stayed the order of Madhya Pradesh Government saying that adult children of the victims of Bhopal Gas Tragedy should not be given free treatment in Bhopal Hospital, meant for providing treatment to the victims of December 3, 1984 tragedy, which claimed 3,000 lives.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices R V Raveendran and J M Panchal, however, told the petitioner, ''there is no harm in providing medical treatment to general public also as long as the victims are not adversely affected.'' The stay order was passed on a petition filed by the Bhopal Group for Information and Action which had challenged the order of the State government.

With today's order, all the victims of the unfortunate tragedy, which left behind a trail of thousands of victims partially or fully disabled/incapacitated for life, should be given free treatment in the hospital, irrespective of their age.

UNI