New Delhi:
The Centre has decided against pursuing the case of Bhopal gas tragedy compensation in US courts, Law Minister M Veerappa Moily said on Wednesday.
"We have taken a decision not to pursue the case as it is not in the interest of victims and not in the interest of India. We have taken a considered decision. Our courts are
competent and capable of resolving (the matter)," he told reporters here.
He was responding to a question on the opinion of the Attorney General that India should not become a party in compensation-related cases in the United States. In an advice to the Group of Ministers on Bhopal tragedy, the AG had asked the Union government not to pursue the Bhopal gas tragedy case in US courts.
The GoM, which had delved into various aspects of the Bhopal gas tragedy, had sought legal opinion on the possibility of filing cases in US courts to enhance the $ 470 million compensation extracted from Union Carbide in 1989.
Set up to re-examine the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, the GoM, headed by Home Minister P Chidambaram, had recommended the central government give additional compensation worth Rs 1,500 crore to the victims and petition the Supreme Court for a review of its judgment that diluted charges against the perpetrators among other things.