Madhya Pradesh officials fell short in helping Bhopal gas tragedy victims, SC panel reveals

The monitoring panel has now flagged glaring lacunae in healthcare provided to the victims over the years. For instance, of the 1,247 sanctioned posts in hospitals run by the Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Department, there are 498 vacancies, the monitoring panel has highlighted in its compliance report, which it submitted to the HC.

Further, of the 27 posts for super specialists, there were 20 vacancies. Of the 51 posts reserved for specialists, 24 were vacant.

This, despite the Supreme Court highlighting previously that “there is a large number of vacancies of doctors and supporting staff in hospitals and allied departments” and directing authorities “to take appropriate steps not only to fill up these vacancies but also to provide… infrastructure and facilities that the doctors are not compelled to resign…”

In its compliance report, the monitoring panel said this direction was “substantially not complied with to the extent that there is a shortfall of specialists/doctors/staff in all hospitals run by the State Government in the Department of Gas Relief and Rehabilitation”.

That’s not all, the compliance report also states that “though six gas relief hospitals were computerised, digitisation of medical records was not done”. Moreover, 4.6 lakh victims haven’t even been provided health booklets – something the Supreme Court asked for in 2012.

The Supreme Court had formed the monitoring committee in 2004, and passed specific directions in 2012. In 2015, the Bhopal Gas Peedith Mahila Udyog Sangathan, an outfit looking into the welfare of victims, filed a contempt petition before the Madhya Pradesh High Court, alleging that the SC directions were not complied with.

Finally, on December 20 last year, the High Court noted: “Despite more than ten and a half years having elapsed, respondents have demonstrated no urgency or sincerity in complying with directions, thereby leaving the gas victims in the lurch.”

It initiated contempt proceedings against three senior officials, including the Secretary of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Department and two state information officers with the National Information Centre, noting that they “tried their level best to render the concept of Public Interest Litigation nugatory by dragging their feet in the process of compliance”.

“This court does not see any good reason behind the laxity on the part of respondents except their insensitivity towards gas victims,” the HC said, directing them to submit an explanation by January 16.