Bhopal Gas Tragedy: SC issues contempt notices to Health Ministry, ICMR over non-compliance of orders on medical care

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has issued notices to top government officials in response to a contempt plea alleging non-compliance with the Apex Court's 2012 directives to improve medical care for Bhopal gas tragedy victims and to computerise their medical records.

Notices have been issued by the Apex Court to the Secretary of the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, the Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh, and the Principal Secretary of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief & Rehabilitation Department.

The contempt proceedings in this connection have arisen out of the case titled Bhopal Gas Peedith Mahila Udyog Sangathan v. Union of India, in which, the top court bench had issued detailed directions on August 9, 2012.

Back then, the Apex Court bench had issued directions focusing on systematic medical care for gas victims and it had mandated that the Jabalpur Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court oversee the process of implementation.

Also Read: Digitise Bhopal Gas Tragedy Survivors' Records: HC directs Centre, MP Govt

However, in spite of such directives, the compliance with the Supreme Court's order still remains elusive, Law Chakra has reported. Even though the petitioners had filed the first contempt plea in 2015, no significant punitive action was taken against the defaulting authorities. Consequently, the matter dragged for years and thousands of victims failed to receive proper medical facilities.

As per the latest media report by Law Chakra, in the contempt plea, it has been alleged that the Monitoring Committee, first set up in 2004, and later reconstituted in 2013 under Justice V.K. Agarwal (Retd.), has submitted 21 reports recommending specific steps. However, it has been alleged that the authorities have largely ignored these reports.

Another allegation highlighted in the contempt plea is that there is an acute shortage of doctors and faculty members at the Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre (BMHRC) and despite repeated warnings by the High Court, the Union Government has failed to expedite the recruitment. Back in 2017, the High Court had also took note of the deliberate delays in filling vacancies and non-framing of recruitment rules.

Further, the contempt plea claimed that even though the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and BMHRC claim that computerisation is complete, the Monitoring Committee has pointed out that the system is neither patient-centric nor provides a comprehensive treatment history, rendering it practically ineffective.

The High Court, since 2013, has consistently warned of coercive action against the authorities and in its most recent remark on January 6, 2025, the High Court criticised the "callous approach" of the State, mentioning that it appeared the authorities were not serious about completing the work, the plea highlighted.

After hearing the contempt plea, the Apex Court bench comprising Justice P.S.Narasimha and Justice A.S. Chandurkar issued notices to the concerned officials in this regard and listed the matter for further hearing on November 14, 2025.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that back in 2021, the Madhya Pradesh High Court had slammed the Union Government for not filling the sufficient and complete submission on the status of the medical treatment provided at the Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre (BMHRC) for those who were affected by the 1984 Union Carbide disaster. Back then, the