Supreme Court to Centre: Enforce Cashless Scheme for Road Accident Victims Without Delay

Supreme Court to Centre: Enforce Cashless Scheme for Road Accident Victims Without Delay

Ensuring justice on wheels — no delay, no denial for the injured

New Delhi, May 14 – The Supreme Court has firmly directed the central government to implement the cashless treatment scheme for road accident victims in full measure, ensuring that it operates in both letter and spirit. The scheme, which came into force on May 5, guarantees up to ₹1.5 lakh per accident per person for emergency medical care across India.

A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan issued the directive during a hearing on Tuesday, instructing the Centre to submit a comprehensive affidavit by the end of August 2025. The affidavit must detail the rollout of the scheme, including the number of beneficiaries who have availed of cashless treatment so far.

The justices emphasized the importance of the scheme’s effective implementation, stating, “We direct the central government to ensure that the scheme is implemented in its true letter and spirit.” The court stressed that transparency and data-backed accountability will be essential in evaluating the success of the initiative.

The Centre, in response, informed the bench that the scheme was notified through the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and has been operational since May 5. As per the notification, any individual injured in a road accident involving a motor vehicle on any public road is entitled to receive cashless treatment at empaneled hospitals.

However, the Supreme Court had earlier expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s delay in operationalizing the provision. On April 28, the court criticized the Centre for not complying with its January 8 directive to establish the scheme, nor seeking an extension. The provision under Section 164A of the Motor Vehicles Act, which came into force on April 1, 2022, was intended to provide interim relief to victims, but remained dormant until now.

The apex court's latest intervention underscores the urgency of making emergency healthcare accessible to road accident victims without financial barriers, and reinforces the state’s responsibility to act swiftly and decisively on such public welfare measures.

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