Page:Acts of the Parliament of India 1985.djvu/102

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Bhopal Gas Leak Disaster (Processing of Claims)
[act 21
(iv) any other claim (including any claim by way of loss of business or employment) arising out of, or connected with, the disaster;
(c) "claimant” means a person entitled to make a claim;
(d) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner appointed under section 6;
(e) "person" includes the Government;
(f) "Scheme" means a Scheme framed under section 9.

Explanation.—For the purposes of clauses (b) and (c), where the death of a person has taken place as a result of the disaster, the claim for compensation or damages for the death of such person shall be for the benefit of the spouse, children (including a child in the womb) and other heirs of the deceased and they shall be deemed to be the claimants in respect thereof.

Power of Central Government to represent claimants. 3. (1) Subject to the other provisions of this Act, the Central Government shall, and shall have the exclusive right to, represent, and act in place of (whether within or outside India) every person who has made, or is entitled to make, a claim for all purposes connected with such claim in the same manner and to the same effect as such person.

(2)In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub-section (1), the purposes referred to therein include—

(a) institution of any suit or other proceeding in or before any court or other authority (whether within or outside India) or withdrawal of any such suit or other proceeding, and
(b) entering into a compromise.

(3) The provisions of sub-section (1) shall apply also in relation to claims in respect of which suits or other proceedings have been instituted in or before any court or other authority (whether within or outside India) before the commencement of this Act:

Provided that in the case of any such suit or other proceeding with respect to any claim pending immediately before the commencement of this Act in or before any court or other authority outside India, the Central Government shall represent, and act in place of, or along with, such claimant, if such court or other authority so permits.

Claimant's right to be represented by a legal practioner. 4. Notwithstanding anything contained in section 3, in representing, and acting in place of, any person in relation to any claim, the Central Government shall have due regard to any matters which such person may require to be urged with respect to his claim and shall, if such person so desires, permit at the expense of such person, a legal practitioner of his choice to be associated in the conduct of any suit or other proceeding relating his claim.