New Delhi/Kasaragod: In a major relief to endosulfan victims, the Supreme Court (SC) has directed the pesticide companies to pay Rs 5 Lakh each to the affected within 3 months.
SC has directed the state government to recover the money from the pesticide companies and pay to the victims. The apex court also directed the government to provide life time treatment to all the affected and healthcare facilities through qualified physicians. State government has been instructed to take adequate measures to recover of the amount. In case the companies fail to pay the victims, the latter can approach the central government, SC has ruled.
SC bench headed by Chief Justice J S Kehar ruled in favour of the victims while disposing a petition submitted by the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI).
The petitioners had quoted the directive of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) asking the state government to pay Rs 5 Lakh to each victim. The SC questioned the state government for the inordinate delay in giving financial relief to the victims.
Meanwhile, state government had asked for Rs 458 Crore central government packages to give financial relief to the affected.
SC further issued a contempt notice to the Central Environment and Agro Chemicals, a conglomerate of endosulfan manufactures, for using the photograph of the SC chief justice in its advertisements in the year 2012.
