Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Friday directed Central government as well as various Atomic Energy departments to file affidavit with details on cause of deaths of nuclear scientists in mysterious circumstances and the investigation undertaken in this regard.
The court also directed the Centre that its affidavit should have details about what norms, guidelines, policy, rules they have to protect the health of scientists and to provide compensation to their families.
Justice Chellur observed that both, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and the Atomic Energy Commission, have filed affidavits that were very generic in nature and did not explain the investigation done and the conclusion arrived about the reason behind the deaths.
Though additional solicitor general Anil Singh claimed that the details provided by the petitioners were incorrect, he said that even if someone had died of heart attack, the petitioner has showed him as dying under mysterious circumstance. “Radiation in nuclear plants is below permissible levels. We provide better health care facilities,” claimed Singh adding that the compensation given to the families is as per norms. Following this, Chief Justice asked for the material to be on record to substantiate government’s statement.
The court was of the view that army and scientists should be taken care of. According to the court, if the life expectancy is around 70 years then there should be a reason as to why people are dying at 50. “If this goes on, then interests towards the workplace will reduce further affecting nation’s interests,” she added.
The division bench of Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice G.S. Kulkarni issued this direction while hearing a public interest litigation seeking formation of a (SIT) to probe the deaths of several Indian nuclear scientists.
