Bhopal gas tragedy

2. Shortly after midnight, methyl isocyanate gas leaked from a tank at the Union Carbide Bhopal Plant. FIR registered against Union Carbide India Limited invoking 304 IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder).

3. Warren Anderson, Chairman of Union Carbide arrested on arrival in Bhopal. Bailed out within 6 hours, flown to Delhi in state government aircraft, and flies out of Delhi, never to return.

4. CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) takes charge of Bhopal Case.

5. Indian Government passes Bhopal Gas Leak Disaster (Processing of Claims) Act acquiring exclusive claim to represent victims.

6. Government announces scheme for registering individual claims arising out of disaster – no surveys done, chaos ensues – more than 6 lakh claims received

7. Government files civil suit at district judge, Bhopal claiming Rs. 3900 ($3 billion) compensation and punitive damages.

8. District judge proposes Rs. 350 crores interim compensation. Union Carbide appeals against this in MP (Madhya Pradesh ) high court which reduces it to Rs. 250 crores. CBI Files criminal charge-sheet against 12 accused.

9. Both parties appeal against this in the Supreme Court.

10. Under Supreme Court sanction, Carbide and government reach settlement. Carbide to pay Rs. 705 crores ($470 million). All civil and criminal cases dropped.

11. Supreme Court accepts petition to reopen criminal cases against Bhopal accused.

12. Bhopal Court issues non-bailable warrant against Anderson.

13. Supreme Court reduces criminal charges from section 304, culpable homicide (max punishment 10 years) to section 304 A, causing death by negligence (max punishment 2 years).

14. Union Carbide bought by Dow Chemical Company. Victims apply to get Dow to appear in criminal cases.

15. Supreme Court accepts that number of gas victims is 5.73 lakhs and not 1 lakh, as assumes in 1989. Victims file for increase in compensation. SC order ICMR to review and set out new agenda for research on effects of gas on victims. Committee has met just 3 times.

16. Government asks for extradition of Warren Anderson. CJM Bhopal asks Dow to appear in court, Dow Chemical International, Mumbai says it is not connected to Dow USA. Within weeks, Madhya Pradesh high court stays Bhopal court’s notice.

17. SC rejects plea for increase in compensation saying welfare commissioner, Bhopal will determine the facts.

18. 101,000 victims petition welfare commissioner, Bhopal for paying compensation as per value of dollar on 1989.

19. Welfare commissioner rejects petition. Victims file writ in Madhya Pradesh HC.

20. Bhopal Court convicts eight accused under Section 304 A (Accused are already out on bail).