A committee set up by the Madhya Pradesh Government to look into the trial court judgement in the Bhopal gas tragedy case will examine all legal aspects including any fresh evidence, its chairman said on Friday.
"We are examining everything including what new evidence has come and how to
handle it in the legal framework," chairman of the committee Vivek Tankha said.
Tankha, who is also the Additional Solicitor General, said the 5-member panel will carefully go into all aspects as the task before it involves very "complex" issues on law.
"It is not an easy task. The records involves complex issues on law. All the members are studying," Tankha said when asked about the legal recourse available against the trial court verdict in which the accused have been given very lenient punishment for the 1984 gas disaster.
He said the report and recommendation of the committee will be placed before the state government within the 10-day deadline fixed by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan.
"We are examining the legal options available before the state government and will give the recommendations. We are going to do this in 10 days," he said.
He said the committee also will examine the question of seeking review of the judgement.
Tankha said the committee, having highly experienced members, including RD Jain, Advocate General of Madhya Pradesh, SN Lodha, retired High Court judge and AM Mathur, former Advocate General who was associated with the case, will examine all documents including the 1996 Supreme Court verdict by which the charges were diluted against the accused.
The Principal Secretary of Madhya Pradesh is the convenor of the committee.