The buck must stop somewhere, particularly when it concerns the lives and health of thousands of ordinary people. Yet sadly, despite the simple, obvious and humanitarian step the United Progressive Alliance Government could have taken, it has fallen short by passing the buck. The issue that has come before it is fairly straightforward. By June 30, a United States Federal Court expects the Government of India and the Madhya Pradesh Government to state in writing that they have no objection to the court directing the Union Carbide Corporation to clean up the mess it left behind in its plant in Bhopal. This plant, which was operated by Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL), a wholly owned subsidiary of the multinational Union Carbide Corporation (UCC), closed down in December 1984 following the leak of tonnes of methyl isocyanate that ultimately led to the death of over 17,000 people...editorial.