The Supreme Court today asked the Madhya Pradesh Government to furnish its response to the monitoring committee’s report on whether medical facilities were inadequate for the victims of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, as noted by the committee appointed to ensure timely and adequate medicare facilities to the victims. The response will be filed within six weeks, said the Bench of Justices CK Thakker and Lokeshwar Singh Panta, who also directed the court-appointed advisory committee to file its report within six weeks. The directions were issued on the PIL alleging gross neglect of the victims by the authorities in extending proper medicare and treatment facilities. PS Narasimha, counsel appearing for one of the NGOs complained that while the monitoring committee has been meeting regularly and performing its duties, the advisory committee constituted with eminent personalities has not been functional for the past two years.In compliance with the SC’s directions, the State Government on August 17, 2004 had constituted the two committees. According to the terms of references, while the monitoring committee was entrusted with the task of ensuring timely, efficient and effective medicare facilities to the victims, the advisory committee was to examine the treatment practices adopted by the Government and suggest proper measures to overcome the loopholes. It was directed to submit its report to the apex court after every six months.However, the counsel informed how the advisory committee had not been meeting for the past two years and was also not submitting its report to the apex court as directed. After the tragedy in 1984, three of the NGOs fighting for the victims had in January 1998, filed a petition in the apex court alleging that on an average 10 to 15 people were dying every month in the state on account of the after effects of the tragedy. It was pointed out that there was severe shortage of medicines and medical facilities, which was aggravating the problem. Besides, the fifth report of the monitoring committee which remarked about the “woeful” performance of the State Government in extending proper medicare to the victims, was also placed on record.
