CBI on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that two-year jail term to the convicts in Bhopal gas tragedy case is grossly disproportionate to the gravity of the crime committed which left more than 15,000 people dead. While seeking a review of Apex Court's judgement of diluting charges against the convicts, Attorney General G E Vahanvati told a five-judge constitution bench headed by the Chief Justice S H Kapadia that the judgement of September 13, 1996, is oppressive to judicial conscience. He further said although there was a mistake on the part of investigating agency in approaching the court 16 years after the order was passed but the court cannot deny justice on this ground. The agency, which has sought restoration of charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder which attracts maximum 10 years jail term, said it was not an ordinary case in which delay in filing the curative petition will come in the way of providing justice to the victims of the disaster.CBI's curative petition faced opposition from the convicts who questioned its maintainability when the agency itself has moved the sessions court against the verdict of the trial court and even the appeals filed by the convicts are pending. Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for the then Union Carbide India Chairman Keshub Mahindra, who has been sentenced to two years jail term, said the case should be decided on the basis of law and not on the basis of facts.
News On AIR | April 19, 2011 9:09 PM
2-year jail term to Bhopal gas tragedy convicts grossly disproportionate: CBI tells SC