The Supreme Court on Wednesday severely criticized the Central Government for its failure to implement a scheme for cashless medical treatment for motor accident victims. The court has summoned the secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport to provide an explanation for the delay.
During the session, a bench comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan expressed their discontent, highlighting the government’s non-compliance with the court’s directive issued on January 8. The justices emphasized the serious nature of the breach, noting that the deadline for compliance had passed on March 15, 2025.
“This is a serious breach and violation of not only the orders of this court but also of implementing a very beneficial legislation,” the bench stated. They have scheduled a video conference on April 28, during which the secretary must explain the failure to act per the court’s directions.
Additional Solicitor General Vikramjeet Banerjee, representing the Centre, admitted to facing “bottlenecks” in implementing the scheme. However, the bench responded sternly, stressing the importance of the legislation which aims to save lives by ensuring cashless treatment for accident victims during the critical ‘golden hour’—the period immediately following an accident when medical intervention is most likely to be successful.
The court’s frustration was palpable as it pointed out the potential life-saving benefits of the scheme. “This is your own legislation; people are losing lives because there is no facility for cashless treatment. This is for the benefit of common people. We are putting you to notice; we’ll take action under contempt if necessary,” the justices warned.
The original order from January 8 required the government to establish a framework by March 14 to facilitate prompt and effective medical assistance to those injured in motor accidents, referencing Section 162(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which mandates such support. This scheme is crucial for implementing Section 2(12-A) of the Act, which defines the ‘golden hour.’
