CIC directed External affairs ministry to disclose conversation on the issue of Anderson
BHOPAL: In an attempt to ascertain the government’s intention to bring back absconding former Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) chairman Warren Anderson from the US to face trial in Bhopal for the tragedy in 1984, the Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed the external affairs ministry to disclose the communication between it and CBI on the issue of his extradition.
The CIC said the reason is not sufficient for denying information to the public, rejecting the ministry’s defense in holding back the information saying that the matter is `sub judice’.
In the aftermath of the Bhopal court judgment that awarded mild two years jail term for eight accused including UCC’s India chapter president Keshub Mahindra last year, the government has been severely attacked for being sympathetic towards the company that is now owned by Dow Chemicals.
It had been charged of facilitating the slip for Anderson son after he was granted bail by a trial court in Bhopal in 1984.
The Supreme Court also scrapped the delayed petitions filed by the CBI and the Union government seeking review of its judgment in 1996 that had mellowed down the charges against the gas leak disaster accused.
