The correct option is (a).
Explanation
The government plays a dual role in ensuring public safety: the legislature enacts laws to regulate hazardous activities, and the executive branch enforces these laws through inspections and penalties. Under the Indian Constitution, the Right to Life (Article 21) has been interpreted expansively by the judiciary to include the right to a healthy environment and protection from hazardous industries.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: The government is constitutionally and legally responsible for both making safety laws (Legislature) and enforcing them (Executive). For instance, laws like the Factories Act, 1948, are enacted by the Parliament, while government inspectors and agencies ensure compliance on the ground.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: Article 21 of the Constitution guarantees the Right to Life and Personal Liberty. The Supreme Court has interpreted this article to include the right to a pollution-free environment and protection against hazardous industries. It does not exclude industrial safety; rather, judicial pronouncements (e.g., in the M.C. Mehta cases) have firmly placed industrial safety within the ambit of the Right to Life.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: In the context of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, investigations and reports highlight that government inspectors failed to enforce strict safety standards. Instead of repeatedly rejecting unsafe procedures, inspectors often continued to approve the plant's procedures despite repeated minor leaks and evidence of defective safety mechanisms. The tragedy was a result of negligence in both corporate compliance and government enforcement.
Key Takeaway: The Right to Life under Article 21 includes the right to a safe and healthy environment. The state has a positive obligation to enact and strictly enforce safety laws to protect citizens from industrial hazards.