SC seeks affidavit on relief to Bhopal gas victims

New Delhi, March 31: The Supreme Court today directed the Union Government to file an affidavit within two weeks explaining why it had not released Rs 27 crore already sanctioned by it for the implementation of the first action plan for better equipping the two hospitals meant for providing medical treatment to the victims of the Bhopal gas leak disaster.

The court also directed the Union Government to explain in the same affidavit the steps it had taken so far in respect of the second action plan already submitted by the Madhya Pradesh government suggesting ways and means to improve the working of the two hospitals.

The directions were issued by a division bench comprising Justice G T Nanavati and Justice S P Kurdukar on a public interest petition by the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sanghatan pending before the court for long time now.

The court further directed the state government to appoint an official of the rank of a secretary to supervise and look after the medical relief and rehabilitation ofthe victims of the disaster.