Gas tragedy: Order reserved on petition for higher punishment

The revision petition seeking enhancement of punishment was filed by the CBI and the state government in the court of district and sessions judge Sushma Khosla, who, after hearing arguments of both parties, reserved her judgement yesterday.

On June 7, 2010, the lower court awarded punishment to the then officials of the Union Carbide, including Keshub Mahindra, under section 304 A of the IPC, in which only two years imprisonment is awarded.

The petitioners demanded that those responsible for the tragedy should be tried under section 304 (II) of the IPC, in which ten-year imprisonment and fine is awarded, as the punishment given to them by the lower court is too light in view of gravity of the offence.

However, defence counsel argued that the curative petition filed by the state government in the Supreme Court on the issue had already been dismissed while the revision petition was filed in the sessions court after the mandatory time limit of 90 days and therefore, the court should not concede to the CBI request.