Supreme Court Slams Government for Delay in Cashless Treatment Scheme for Accident Victims
The Supreme Court has come down heavily on the central government for failing to implement a long-awaited cashless medical treatment scheme for motor accident victims. The scheme, meant to ensure immediate and free emergency care during the critical ‘golden hour’ after an accident, was to be rolled out by March 15, 2025, but the deadline has now passed without action.
A bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan expressed deep concern over the government’s inaction, stating that the delay amounts to a serious violation of the court’s orders and a denial of public benefit. “The time granted has expired on March 15, 2025. This is a serious breach and violation of not only orders of this court but a violation of implementing a very beneficial legislation,” the bench noted sharply.
The court has now summoned the Secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to appear via video conferencing on April 28 to explain the reasons behind the delay. The bench warned that failure to act could invite contempt proceedings, emphasizing that procedural delays are directly costing lives.
The ‘golden hour,’ defined under Section 2(12-A) of the Motor Vehicles Act, refers to the critical one-hour period immediately following a traumatic injury when prompt medical intervention can make the difference between life and death. The absence of a nationwide, cashless treatment mechanism means that many accident victims either receive delayed care or none at all.
While the government cited bureaucratic “bottlenecks” as the reason for the delay, the court dismissed the explanation, underlining the state’s statutory duty under Section 162 of the Motor Vehicles Act to ensure swift implementation.
The court also directed the Transport Department to issue instructions to district magistrates for uploading hit-and-run claim data on the General Insurance Council portal, aiming to streamline the compensation process.
This latest rebuke signals the judiciary’s growing frustration with administrative delays in executing welfare legislation, especially when lives are at stake. The Supreme Court made it clear that public welfare cannot be sacrificed at the altar of red tape.
