In an important decision, the Supreme Court told the Indian government to create a plan for giving free medical treatment to people injured in car accidents during the “golden hour.” This is the first hour after an injury when quick treatment can save lives. The court’s decision was announced by Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih, who emphasized the need for fast medical care.
The “golden hour” is defined by the law, and it is a critical time for anyone hurt in a car accident. If they don’t get treated quickly, they may die. The court asked the government to have this plan ready by March 14, 2025. They also want to see the plan by March 21, along with a report about how it will work.
Justice Oka highlighted that when people get hurt in accidents, they might be alone, and financial worries or long procedures shouldn’t delay their treatment. It is important that everyone gets medical help right away since every life is valuable. The law already requires insurance companies to help pay for this urgent treatment, but the government hasn’t put the plan into action since the law has been in place since April 1, 2022.
The government had sent a draft plan with a limit of 1.5 lakh rupees (about $2,000) for treatment but was criticized for not covering all the needs of accident victims. The court told the government to fix these issues in their final plan.
Additionally, there is a fund created under a special section of the law to help with treatment costs. The General Insurance Council (GIC) has a role in managing claims related to accidents and will develop a website to make the process easier for families. The court found out that many claims are pending because of missing documents and has directed the GIC to speed up their work and provide updates by March 14, 2025.
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