SC Slams Govt For Delay in Implementing Cashless Scheme For Road Accident Victims During 'Golden Hour'

New Delhi: After the Supreme Court pulled up the government for delay in implementing a scheme for cashless treatment of road accident victims during the “golden hour,” the Union government on Monday (April 28) told the apex court that it will implement the scheme within a week

According to the Section 2 (12-A) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, the “golden hour” is the one-hour window following a traumatic injury under which a timely medical intervention would most likely save the victims, reported The Tribune.

Earlier, a bench led by Justice Abhay S Oka had pulled up the Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), for inordinate delay in framing the scheme.

“People are dying on highways. There is no facility there. No golden hour treatment. What is the use of constructing highways?” the court had asked.

On January 8 this year, the court had directed the Union government to frame the scheme as expeditiously as possible and, in any event, by March 14”.

“Firstly, remember you are in contempt. We will issue contempt notice to you first. What is this going on? Are you not supposed to come to the court when you can’t comply with an order? Just now you tell us when you will frame the scheme,” said the court on Monday.

“You don’t care for your own statutes… Can you be so casual? Three years after, you are saying you hit roadblocks etc. You have done nothing. Why did you enact this provision?” the court added.

After the top court’s rebuke, the MoRTH Secretary apologised to the Bench for the inordinate delay in implementing the January 8 order.

“The Secretary of MoRTH, Government of India, appears. He states that the scheme for golden hour in accordance with Section 162(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 will be brought into force within a week from today… The learned Secretary states that the government tenders an apology for non-compliance with direction contained in paragraph 8 of order dated January 8,” said the court in its order.

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