New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday approved the Union government's guidelines to protect Good Samaritans from any kind of harassment for helping road accident victims. Also, they (good Samaritans) will be exempted from any criminal and civil liability.
Sources said, as per the guidelines framed by the Centre, those saving lives of road accident victims need not fear harassment by anyone including police. The 'Good Samaritans' guidelines will be implemented in all states and union territories.
The Centre's guidelines will soon be published in the media for mass awareness.
On October 30, 2014, the apex court had asked the government to find ways for strong guidelines to protect those helping the victims of road accidents.
Then the court has directed the Union Government to issue executive orders within three months to protect those who want to help road accident victims.
The ruling came after SC appointed K Skandan Committee has recommended that such people should not be subjected to civil and criminal liability.
'They should not be forced to disclose their identity and should not be called to appear for court hearings,' Committee report suggested.
The Committee also suggested that any doctor refusing to attend or treat a road accident victim must face disciplinary action as per the norms laid down under the Medical Council of India (MCI) guidelines.
The panel had suggested that all hospitals must admit such victims and the person accompanying the injured should not be detained by the hospital authority and authorities should not ask them for registration.
As per National Crime Records Bureau report, in the last decade, over 12 lakh people have lost their lives and 55 lakh seriously injured or permanently disabled.
Unfortunately, India stood first with highest number of road fatalities, as compares to China, Brazil, USA, Indonesia, Russia, Iran, Mexico, South Africa and Thailand.
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