Lok Sabha Passed Civil Nuclear Liability Bill

The Lok Sabha on 26 August 2010 passed the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Bill, 2010 with the amendment to Clause 17(b). The word intent was removed from the Clause 17(b) as per the amendment.

According to the amended bill, in case any nuclear accident takes place, the operator of nuclear stations can extend liability claims to domestic nuclear equipment suppliers as well as foreign ones. Earlier, for claiming any compensation, the operator had to prove the intent of a supplier of causing an accident.

The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Bill,2010, was amended after the opposition parties made an objection to the bill on the basis that it would not be possible to prove actual intent on the part of suppliers and as a result, the operators’ right to remedy will become meaning- less.

Domestic private sector nuclear equipment firms expressed dissatisfaction with the amended bill by stating that changes in clause 17(b) will keep the domestic and foreign nuclear suppliers away.

The word intent in clause 17(b) meant that the suppliers of nuclear equipments would be hold responsible to any nuclear damage only in case if it is proved that they had willful intent to cause damage.