Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily has said that all aspects of the Bhopal gas leak case would be disposed of “in a year or so.”
Even as Mr. Moily assured reporters about the government's seriousness to pursue the Bhopal gas leak case, survivor organisations burned effigies of the Empowered Group of Ministers, protesting against compensation packages wrongly calculated and disbursed.
The Bhopal Gas Peedith Mahila Udyog Sangathan led the protest, burning effigies of the EGoM and Home Minister P. Chidambaram.
Renewed request
Mr. Moily also said that a renewed request for the extradition of former Union Carbide chief Warren Anderson would be made by the Government of India. Opinion on the same had been received from the Attorney-General of India, he said. He, however, refused to comment on whether the issue would be taken up during U.S. President Barack Obama's upcoming India visit.
Stressing the need for “comprehensive electoral reforms,” Mr. Moily said a two-day national conference on the subject would be held in New Delhi in December and regional conferences would be held on the subject in cities such as Lucknow and Bhopal.
He also said efforts were being made by the government to reform the criminal justice system.
Fifth Schedule areas
Asked about the governance of Fifth Schedule areas and the passive role played by Governors in the same, he said this was a pertinent issue and was being looked into by the government.
Mr. Moily also said that his Ministry would expedite the process of clearing pending legislation pertaining to clinical trials involving human subjects.
