Bhopal Gas Tragedy: SC Declines To Interfere With HC Order On Waste Disposal

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of India, on Thursday, upheld the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s directive regarding the transfer and disposal of toxic waste originating from the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster, affirming the decision to process the hazardous material at a designated facility in Pithampur, Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh.

The bench, comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and A.G. Masih, dismissed a plea seeking a stay on the trial disposal run, noting that expert evaluations conducted by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had already been thoroughly reviewed by the high court and the designated expert panel.

The Court advised aggrieved stakeholders, including civil society representatives, to present their concerns before the high court, which retains jurisdiction over the matter.

Previously, on February 25, the Supreme Court had instructed authorities to submit a comprehensive report detailing the safety measures implemented for the disposal of the hazardous material.

The waste, totaling approximately 377 tonnes, was originally stored at the now-defunct Union Carbide India Ltd. (UCIL) facility in Bhopal before being relocated to an industrial waste treatment plant in Pithampur, situated approximately 250 kilometers from Bhopal and 30 kilometers from Indore.

The Bhopal gas disaster, which occurred on the night of December 2–3, 1984, was precipitated by the accidental release of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas from the UCIL facility.

The catastrophe resulted in 5,479 confirmed fatalities and left over half a million individuals with severe and enduring health complications.

Widely regarded as one of the most devastating industrial disasters in global history, the event continues to serve as a focal point for discussions on corporate accountability, environmental justice, and the long-term ramifications of industrial negligence.