Dr. S. Rajaseekaran (II) v. Union of India & Ors.
Background
This is an interim order, not a final judgment. An orthopaedic surgeon filed a public interest petition seeking enforcement of road safety norms and better treatment of accident victims. In 2014 the Court had set up a Committee on Road Safety under former Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan to monitor implementation across 25 subject areas, including helmets, drunk driving, trauma care and speed governors.
Decision Breakdown
This is an interim order, not a final judgment. The Court recorded the compliance or non-compliance of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the States on each of the 25 subject areas and issued further agreed directions. These included setting up Permanent Road Safety Cells by 31 January 2018 and road safety in school curricula by 1 April 2018. The matter was to come up for further proceedings on 7 February 2018.
Lesson Learnt
There is no final ruling yet in the road safety case, which remains under the Court's continuing supervision. The Union and State Governments must meet the deadlines the Court sets along the way.