Archive · 8 Oct 2026
Supreme Court Seeks Permanent Fund for SMA Treatment
The Supreme Court is considering a lasting fund to help pay for treatment for people with SMA.
SMA is a rare genetic disorder, and its treatment can be very expensive.
The judges said that occasional donations and government grants may not provide reliable support.
They want a regular system for collecting and maintaining money.
The court also said the money should be used well.
It asked Aprajita Singh, a lawyer helping the court, to suggest how the fund could be supported.
Possible sources include companies, institutions and the government.
The Centre must file a response about the proposal.
The case began after an organization raised concerns about jokes about people with disabilities.
The Supreme Court considered a permanent corpus fund to help finance treatment for people with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
The bench said individual charity and occasional government grants are not a sufficient regular funding mechanism.
The court said a plan should address both creating the fund and ensuring it is used effectively.
Amicus curiae Aprajita Singh was asked to propose ways to raise and sustain the fund, including CSR, institutional and government contributions.
The Centre was asked to file an affidavit; the case followed concerns raised by SMA Cure Foundation about jokes targeting people with disabilities.
- Who
- A Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana; the Centre was also asked to respond.
- What
- The court considered a permanent corpus fund to finance treatment for people with SMA.
- When
- The report is dated October 8; the court also referred to an August 14 order.
- Where
- The Supreme Court in New Delhi.
- Why
- The court said expensive SMA treatment needs a regular, sustainable funding mechanism.
- Condition
- Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), described as a rare and debilitating genetic disorder
- Proposal
- A permanent corpus fund to help finance treatment for people with SMA
- Amicus curiae
- Senior advocate Aprajita Singh
- Potential funding sources
- Corporate social responsibility contributions, institutional donors and the Centre
- Court direction
- The Centre was asked to file an affidavit on the proposed fund
- Case origin
- SMA Cure Foundation raised concerns about jokes concerning people with disabilities
- Earlier order
- On August 14, the court quashed criminal proceedings against Samay Raina and four others over remarks about people with disabilities
