By The Sampadak Express
The Supreme Court on Wednesday reprimanded the Centre for not implementing a cashless medical treatment scheme aimed at providing emergency assistance during the crucial “golden hour” — the first 60 minutes following a serious road accident.
The apex court had previously set a deadline of March 14 for the rollout of the scheme.
“Time granted to the government expired on March 14… this is a very serious breach and violation of an order of this court and failure to implement a very beneficial provision,” the top court observed.
The Bench, comprising Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, summoned senior government officials, including the Secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, directing them to appear on April 28 and explain the “default.”
Justice Oka remarked, “It has been our long experience. Only when we get top government officials here do they take the orders of the court seriously. Otherwise they won’t take it.”
“We are making it very clear. We will issue a notice of contempt if we find that no progress is made. People are losing their lives because there is no treatment,” he added.
Framework for medical assistance
In January, the top court had instructed the government to devise a framework for immediate medical assistance for road accident victims, with emphasis on the golden hour and situations where the injured may lack support from family or acquaintances to bear the treatment expenses.
The Bench pointed out that delays often occur because bystanders, law enforcement, and even medical institutions hesitate to act, especially when high treatment costs are involved. This inaction, the court said, jeopardises lives.
It also highlighted that Section 162(2) of the amended Motor Vehicles Act obligates insurance providers to offer cashless emergency care to accident victims — an obligation that has yet to be fulfilled.
The government had initially introduced the idea of cashless treatment for accident victims, especially during the golden hour, in December 2023.
Rising road accidents in India
During the Winter Session of Parliament in 2024, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said that road accidents in India result in nearly 178,000 deaths annually. He highlighted that nearly 60 per cent of these victims are between 18 and 34 years of age.
Gadkari also pointed out the states with the highest number of road accident fatalities. Uttar Pradesh topped the list with 23,652 deaths, followed by Tamil Nadu with 18,347 fatalities. Maharashtra recorded 15,366 deaths, while Madhya Pradesh reported 13,798.
Among cities, Delhi recorded the highest number of road accident-related deaths, with over 1,457 fatalities. Bengaluru followed with 915 deaths, and Jaipur reported 850 fatalities.
SC Slams Centre for Delay in Implementing Cashless Medical Treatment Scheme for Road Accident Victims
The Supreme Court of India has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Centre’s failure to implement a cashless medical treatment scheme for road accident victims, particularly to provide emergency assistance during the critical “golden hour”—the first 60 minutes after an accident. The court had previously set a deadline of March 14 for the scheme’s rollout, which the government missed.
This non-compliance was described as a “serious breach” of the court’s order, with the Bench, consisting of Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, emphasizing the importance of this scheme in saving lives. “This is a very serious breach and violation of an order of this court and failure to implement a very beneficial provision,” the court noted.
The Bench summoned senior government officials, including the Secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, directing them to appear before the court on April 28 to explain the delay. Justice Oka commented, “It has been our long experience. Only when we get top government officials here do they take the orders of the court seriously. Otherwise, they won’t take it.”
The court also warned the government that it would issue a notice of contempt if no progress is made. “People are losing their lives because there is no treatment,” Justice Oka added.
Framework for Emergency Medical Assistance
In January, the Supreme Court had directed the government to create a framework to ensure immediate medical assistance for road accident victims, particularly those who may not have family support to cover treatment costs.
The Court highlighted that delays in treatment often occur due to hesitation from bystanders, law enforcement, and medical institutions, primarily due to the high costs involved. This inaction, the court stressed, risks lives.
The court further pointed out that Section 162(2) of the amended Motor Vehicles Act mandates insurance providers to offer cashless emergency care to accident victims—a provision that remains unfulfilled by the government.
The idea of cashless treatment for accident victims was first introduced by the government in December 2023, with the aim of ensuring timely medical intervention during the critical golden hour.
Rising Road Accidents in India
The urgency of the Supreme Court’s order is underscored by the alarming rise in road accidents across India. According to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, road accidents in the country lead to nearly 178,000 deaths annually. Tragically, a significant portion of these victims are young adults, with 60% of them falling between the ages of 18 and 34.
Gadkari also highlighted the states with the highest number of fatalities. Uttar Pradesh reported the highest toll, with 23,652 deaths, followed by Tamil Nadu with 18,347, Maharashtra with 15,366, and Madhya Pradesh with 13,798. Among cities, Delhi had the highest number of road accident-related deaths, recording over 1,457 fatalities, followed by Bengaluru with 915 and Jaipur with 850.
As road fatalities continue to rise, the court’s scathing remarks underscore the urgency of implementing timely medical intervention for victims to save lives during the critical golden hour.
