Skip to main content

Basel court moves forward in landmark case against Syngenta over pesticide poisoning in India

By A Representative 
In a historic step toward corporate accountability, the Basel Civil Court has advanced proceedings against Swiss agrochemical giant Syngenta, agreeing to assess evidence in a civil lawsuit brought by three Indian plaintiffs—two widows and a survivor—from Yavatmal, Maharashtra. The case stems from the 2017 mass poisoning linked to Syngenta’s pesticide Polo, which is banned in the EU and Switzerland but still sold in India.
Filed in June 2021 under Swiss product liability law, the case represents the first civil lawsuit from the Global South against a multinational agrochemical company for pesticide-related harm. It is supported by ECCHR, Public Eye, and PAN India and spearheaded legally by the Zurich-based law firm Schadenanwälte.
The court’s earlier decision to grant legal aid to the plaintiffs in June 2022 suggests it views the claims as credible—a move seen as a powerful message about Swiss courts’ willingness to examine the global impact of domestic companies.
The case shines a spotlight on the double standards in global pesticide trade and raises urgent questions about transnational corporate responsibility for human rights violations along supply chains. Its outcome could influence legal strategies for other affected communities worldwide.

Comments

Post a Comment

NOTE: Hateful, abusive comments won't be published. -- Editor

TRENDING

Small Farm, big success: How an innovative couple built a model of sustainable farming

By Bharat Dogra  In Sema, a remote village in Rajasthan's Rajsamand district, Bhagwati Lal and his wife Rekha share equal credit for creating a remarkable farm that has become an inspiration for villagers and visitors alike. Their achievement demonstrates how even a very small piece of land can provide a strong foundation for sustainable livelihoods while enhancing climate resilience and protecting the environment.
Post a Comment
»

Incarceration of Prof Saibaba 'revives' the question: What is crime, who is criminal?

By Kunal Pant* In 2016, a Supreme Court Judge asked the state of Maharashtra, “Do you want to extract a pound of flesh?” The statement was directed against the state for contesting the bail plea of Delhi University Professor GN Saibaba. Saibaba was arrested in 2014, a justification for which was to prevent him from committing what the police called “anti-national activities.”
Post a Comment
»

Shrinking settlements, fading schools: The Tibetan exile crisis in India

By Tseten Lhundup*  Since the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959, the Tibetan exile community in Dharamsala has established the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) as the guardian of Tibetan culture and identity. Once admired for its democratic governance , educational system , and religious vitality , the exile community now faces an alarming demographic and institutional decline. 
Post a Comment
»