Supreme Court pulls up Centre for missing deadline on establishing cashless medical treatment scheme for motor accident victims
The Supreme Court recently criticized the Central Government for failing to meet the deadline for establishing a cashless medical treatment scheme for motor accident victims. This scheme is crucial for providing immediate medical assistance during the “golden hour,” the first hour after an accident when timely intervention can significantly improve survival chances.
Deadline Missed: The Supreme Court had set a deadline of March 14, 2025, for the Centre to finalize and submit the scheme, but this was not met, with the grace period expiring on March 15, 2025.
Court’s Reaction: A bench comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan expressed strong displeasure over the delay, calling it a serious breach of both the court’s orders and statutory duties.
Summoning of Officials: The court summoned the Secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to appear via video conferencing on April 28, 2025, to explain the delay.
Contempt Warning: The court warned of potential contempt proceedings if the government fails to comply with its directives.
Reasons for Delay: The Centre cited “bottlenecks” in implementing the scheme, but the court remained unconvinced, emphasizing the urgency and importance of the legislation for saving lives.
The scheme is based on Section 162(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which emphasizes the need for immediate medical care during the “golden hour” following a road accident. The Supreme Court’s directive aims to ensure that accident victims receive timely and cashless medical treatment, which is crucial for preventing fatalities and reducing the burden on families.
