'The CBI was hoping to indefinitely delay this case. This is a very welcome and much anticipated move that the chief judicial magistrate has independently ordered renewed action on this front,' said Rashida Bee, a survivor and leading member of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh.

'Punishing the guilty and having them face the law is extremely important for survivors to attain closure to the horrors of the disaster. More importantly, this will send a strong signal that corporations and corporate bosses cannot play with our lives,' she said.

In 2002, Bhopal supporters traced Anderson to the elite New York neighbourhood of The Hamptons, where he was found living a life of luxury. Survivors' groups in Bhopal said they will now move for renewed action to enforce the appearance of the company's authorised representatives.

In a related matter, an application to summon the Dow Chemical Company is pending before the high court.