In a landmark decision aimed at curbing the rising toll of road accidents across India, the Supreme Court has mandated all States and Union Territories to establish swift response protocols to ensure immediate assistance to accident victims. The directive, issued by Justices Abhay Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, underscores the urgent need for efficient emergency response mechanisms at the grassroots level.
The bench pointed out the distressing increase in road accidents, highlighting the often-critical delays in delivering timely help to the victims. Some victims, while not severely injured, find themselves trapped in vehicles, exacerbating the risk of further injuries and complications. “The reasons for road accidents may vary, but the necessity for immediate response is universal across cases,” stated the bench.
To facilitate this directive, the Supreme Court has also instructed the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to lead coordination efforts. The ministry is tasked with convening meetings with relevant departments from all States and UTs to not only develop these protocols but also to review and enforce regulations concerning the working hours of drivers, which is a contributing factor to vehicular accidents.
States and UTs have been given a six-month period to formulate and commence the implementation of these response protocols. This initiative stems from an application by advocate Kishan Chand Jain, who argued for the establishment of a standardized protocol to manage and mitigate the impacts of road accidents more effectively.
