| CASE NAME | Union Carbide Corporation v. Union of India |
| CITATION | 1992 AIR 248 |
| COURT | Supreme Court of India |
| Bench | Rangnath Misra, K.N. Singh, A.M. Ahmadi |
| Date of Decision | 3 October, 1991 |
INTRODUCTION
The Bhopal gas tragedy, which occurred on the night of December 2-3, 1984, was one of the world’s worst industrial disasters. The disaster was caused by a gas leak from a pesticide plant owned by Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) in the city of Bhopal, India. The gas leak resulted in the immediate deaths of thousands of people and left many more with lifelong disabilities. The Union of India filed a lawsuit against the parent company of UCIL, Union Carbide Corporation (UCC), in the Indian courts for compensation and damages. The Union Carbide Corporation v. Union of India1 case, decided by the Supreme Court of India in 1989, is a landmark case in the history of industrial disasters and corporate liability. The case dealt with various legal issues, such as the jurisdiction of Indian courts over foreign companies, the principle of strict liability, and the extent of damages that could be awarded in a case of this nature. The Bhopal gas tragedy, which led to the legal case, resulted in the deaths of thousands of people and left hundreds of thousands with chronic health problems. The incident raised questions about the responsibility of the Union Carbide Corporation and its subsidiary, Union Carbide India Limited, for the harm caused. The Indian government filed a lawsuit against UCC, seeking compensation for the victims and holding the company accountable for the disaster.
FACTS
On the night of December 3, 1984, a gas leak occurred at the UCC plant in Bhopal. The exact cause of the leak is still a matter of debate, but it is believed to have been caused by a combination of factors, including human error and equipment failure. The leak resulted in the release of over 40 tons of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas into the surrounding environment. The gas quickly spread throughout the city, causing widespread panic and chaos. Many people were unable to escape from the area and were exposed to high levels of the toxic gas. Within hours, thousands of people had died, and many more were injured or suffering from long-term health problems.
ISSUESÂ
The primary legal issue in the case was the liability of Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) for the gas leak. The Indian government and victims’ groups sought compensation and accountability from UCC for the disaster. The case raised questions about the responsibility of multinational corporations for their actions in developing countries and the scope of corporate liability. Another legal issue in the case was the question of jurisdiction and the applicable law. UCC argued that the case should be tried in the United States, where the company was headquartered, and that US law should apply. However, the Indian government argued that the case should be tried in India, under Indian law. The case also raised questions about the remedies and compensation available to the victims of the gas leak. The Indian government and victims’ groups sought a significant amount of compensation from UCC, while UCC argued that the amount of compensation should be limited to the terms of the settlement agreement reached in 1989. Finally, the case raised criminal liability issues for UCC and UCIL’s officials under Indian law. The Indian government charged UCC and UCIL with criminal negligence and other offenses related to the gas leak. Numerous court cases were involved in the Bhopal gas tragedy case, both in India and the United States. A lawsuit brought by the Indian government against UCC in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in 1985 was one of the main legal actions.
On the grounds that the Indian government lacked jurisdiction to file the case in the United States, the court initially rejected the case in 1986. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals later overturned the judgement, allowing the case to go forward. A resolution to the dispute was achieved between UCC and the Indian government in 1989. UCC consented to pay $470 million in damages to the gas leak victims as per the conditions of the settlement. Additionally, the business pledged to clean up the Bhopal plant site and offer medical aid to anyone harmed by the gas release. The deal, however, was divisive and has received harsh criticism for being insufficient. Many people believed that the amount of compensation provided by UCC did not adequately reflect the severity of the devastation brought on by the gas spill. Additionally, there was no mention of criminal responsibility in the settlement.
The Indian Parliament passed the Bhopal Gas Leak Disaster (Processing of Claims) Act on 29th March 1985, which gave the government the power to file a suit on behalf of all the victims (surviving or deceased). The parens patriciae6 theory served as the foundation for this authority of government. The Supreme Court rejected a challenge to this Act on the grounds that it infringed the citizens’ basic freedom to select the legal representation of their choice and was extra vires. Additionally, it was argued that there was a conflict of interest because the Government of India was a participant in the UCIL. The Act, however, was deemed constitutional, and the request was dismissed.
ANALYSISÂ
The case was first heard in the Bhopal District Court, which awarded compensation to the victims of the gas leak. However, the victims’ groups considered the compensation amount inadequate, and the case was appealed to the Indian Supreme Court. In 1989, the Indian government and UCC reached a settlement agreement, providing a total compensation of $470 million. However, the Indian Supreme Court overturned the settlement agreement, stating that it was “unconscionable” and “wholly inadequate” given the magnitude of the disaster. The court directed UCC to pay a higher compensation amount of $470 million. The court also held that UCC was liable for the gas leak and that the case should be tried in India under Indian law. The court found UCC guilty of criminal negligence and other offenses related to the gas leak, but the criminal case was later settled out of court.
The judgment held UCC accountable for the gas leak and directed the company to pay compensation to the victims. This helped to ensure that the company was held responsible for its actions and helped to provide some measure of justice for the victims. The judgment established that multinational corporations can be held liable for their actions in developing countries. This helped to establish an important legal precedent for holding corporations accountable for their actions, regardless of where they operate. The judgment provided for compensation to be paid to the victims of the gas leak, which helped to provide some measure of financial support to those affected by the disaster. The judgment helped to strengthen the Indian legal system by establishing a framework for the compensation of victims of industrial accidents and strengthening environmental and tort laws.
The settlement reached in the case was widely criticized as inadequate, with many arguing that it did not fully compensate victims for their losses or provide sufficient punishment for the company’s role in the disaster. Moreover, it was seen as a small fraction of the actual damages that Union Carbide caused. The lack of criminal liability for Union Carbide Corporation and its executives was a major weakness of the case, as it allowed them to avoid legal consequences for their actions. The case also highlighted the difficulties of holding multinational corporations accountable for harm caused in other countries, as Union Carbide was headquartered in the United States, and the Indian government faced significant legal and logistical challenges in pursuing legal action against the company.
