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Bhopal Gas Leak Disaster (Union of India vs Union Carbide Corporation) :-
Bhopal Gas Leak Tragedy is a historically most tragic case of tort ever happened in the world, though it has occured in Bhopal in India due to the negligenceof the Union Carbide Corporation of USA in it's chemical plant in Bhopal.
After midnight on December 3, 1984 nearly 40 tons of toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas escaped into the atmosphere and caused the death of 3500 people and injured nearly 200,000, some seriously and permanently.
In April 1985 the Government of India sued the Union Carbide in the United States District Court Southern District of New York. But the American Court declined to try the suit on the ground that the local court was the most appropriate place to sue. So in September 1986 the Union Government sued the Union Carbide in the court of District Judge of Bhopal for Rs3900 crores (US 3$BILLION - the conversion rate is according to 1986 rate) in damages.
The District Judge ordered to pay Rs350 crores (US $270 billion). Then it went to appeal in the High Court which reduced the interim award from Rs350 crores to Rs250 crores. As a result a further appeal was made by the Union Government to the apex court of India - The Supreme Court.
The five Judges Bench of the Supreme Court realised that neither the Government of India or the Union Carbide is sincere in it's efforts to bring solace to the victims at the earliest and then on February, 14th 1989 the Supreme Court induced the Government of India and the Union Carbide to accept it's suggestions for an overall settlement of the claims of the victims. Under the settlement the Carbide agreed to pay US $470 million to the Indian Government on behalf of all victims in full & final settlement. The entire amount had to be and was paid by March 31, 1989. Neither the Indian Government nor the victims were satisfied with this settlement.
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