Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Allahabad High Court Bars Delays in Road Accident Treatment
The Allahabad High Court said injured people from road accidents must receive medical help quickly.
Hospitals cannot wait for police paperwork or other legal formalities before treating them.
Doctors have a professional duty to protect human life.
This duty applies even if the injured person may have caused the accident.
The court asked the Uttar Pradesh government to explain how hospitals are checked for following these rules.
It also asked for details about complaints against hospitals that break the rules.
The government must pay the petitioner Rs 25,000 because it took more than 25 years to file its response.
The case began in 2000 and will be heard again on October 1.
The Allahabad High Court said hospitals and doctors cannot delay or refuse accident treatment because police or medico-legal procedures are incomplete.
Doctors must provide immediate care to road accident victims regardless of who was responsible for the crash.
The court ordered Uttar Pradesh to explain how it monitors compliance with Supreme Court directions and central guidelines.
The state was directed to pay Rs 25,000 in costs after failing to file its counter-affidavit for more than 25 years.
The case, filed in 2000 by Anju Prakash Srivastava, will next be heard on October 1.
- Who
- The Allahabad High Court, Uttar Pradesh government, hospitals, doctors, and petitioner Anju Prakash Srivastava.
- What
- The court ruled that police procedures and medico-legal formalities cannot be used to refuse or delay treatment for road accident victims.
- When
- The order was reported on Friday, September 25; the next hearing is scheduled for October 1. The articles do not specify the year.
- Where
- A Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court.
- Why
- To enforce the duty to provide immediate emergency care and assess compliance with Supreme Court directions and central government guidelines.
- Case filed
- 2000
- Petitioner
- Anju Prakash Srivastava
- Costs ordered
- Rs 25,000 payable by the Uttar Pradesh government
- Relevant Supreme Court judgment
- 2016 judgment in Savelife Foundation
- Central guidelines
- Issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on May 12, 2015
- Next hearing
- October 1
- Compliance information sought
- Hospital inspections, complaint handling, monitoring mechanisms, and district-wise complaint details where available