Don't hesitate to help accident victims now! SC directs to protect good samaritans from all hassles

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oi-Mukul

New Delhi, Oct 30: Road accidents in big cities is a common affair, specially in metros like Delhi. And in most cases the victims die just because they were left unattended. People usually think twice before helping and carrying them to the hospitals. The reason being people don't want to go through legal wrangling and police verifications. But that will be the matter of past now.

In a landmark judgment which will encourage people to come forward and help such victims, the Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the Central Government to issue an executive order in this direction. The Court has given three months time to take steps, which will provide these good samaritans a shield from all legal and procedural hassles in the hands of the police and the hospital authorities .

The order came on a petition filed by NGO SaveLIFE Foundation has accepted the majority of recommendations by a court-appointed panel. Earlier, the Government informed the court about its agreement with the Skandan panel recommendations.

The SC bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and Rohinton F Nariman said, "We direct the Ministry (Road Transport and Highways) in consultation with Law Ministry to issue necessary directions with regard to the protection of Good Samaritans until appropriate legislation is made by the legislature".

According to reports more than ten lakhs people have lost their lives in last decade and in most of the cases it was observed that the precious lives could be saved if they would have given helping hand on time.

Throwing more light on the matter, Piyush Tewari who heads the SaveLIFE Foundation as quoted by ibn said, "As per the report of the Law Commission of India 2006, 50 per cent of these people die due to treatable diseases, which means they can be saved. Bystanders who can potentially save lives are hesitant to come forward and save accident victims and therefore, these orders are crucial. Instead of being guidelines to states, it will be an executive order which is equivalent to law,"

Now with this judgment hopefully people will come forward and help such victims. They will not have to worry about all these hassles. The Court has even told the Government not to reveal these samaritans' name until they themselves want to do that. Those doctors also face consequences if they will not treat such victims on priority basis. Let's hope precious human life will be protected after this judgment.

OneIndia News