Monday, April 25 2005 11:42 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today (Apr 25, 2005) extended time till April 30, 2006 for the Welfare Commissioner, Bhopal to disburse compensation worth Rs 1503 crore among 1984 Union Carbide gas leak victims.

The money deposited by the Union Carbide, following the US multinational's settlement with the Union Government, was directed to be disbursed within three months by the Apex Court earlier as per the request of the Welfare Commissioner.

The Welfare Commissioner in these three months could disburse only 224 crore, saying, "The tall claims made by it earlier has run into practical difficulties like non-availability of judges for disbursement."

The Court, accepting the request of the Commissioner, extended the time for disbursement of the remaining fund within one year from May 1, 2005.

The Court asked the Commissioner to file a quarterly report of the disbursement made.