Court to decide on Dow's liability for Bhopal gas leak: Home ministry

The liability of Bhopal gas leak on Dow Chemicals will be decided by the judiciary, home minister P Chidambaram today said.

"Government's position is very clear, who is liable is a matter to be decided on facts and by applying the relevant laws. This can only be done by a court of law," Chidambaram told reporters here.

"An application was filed in 2005. It is still pending. I cannot comment now on why it is pending but the group headed by me has recommended that the government and the ministry concerned must pursue that application vigorously and ask the court to decide that matter quickly. It is only when a court of law decides the liability on Dow or on any other successors...," he said.

Five meetings of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on the Bhopal gas leak disaster were held between June 18-21, 2010 and the report was submitted to the prime minister on June 21, 2010.

"Subsequently, the Cabinet approved the recommendations of the GoM. I am confident that the recommendations will be implemented in accordance with the timeline approved by the Cabinet," the home minister said.