Supreme Court Addresses Highway Accidents

Supreme Court Overview on Highway Accidents

Key Facts:

• On November 10, 2025, the Supreme Court addressed two major highway accidents in Telangana and Rajasthan, resulting in approximately 40 fatalities, many of which were children.
• The accidents occurred within two days:
  • Rajasthan (November 2, 2025): A tempo traveller collided with a stationary truck, killing 15 people. The vehicle was transporting women and children on a pilgrimage.
  • Telangana (November 3, 2025): A lorry collided head-on with a bus, leading to 19 deaths, including a three-month-old infant, while trying to avoid a pothole on NH 163.

Constitutional and Judicial Aspects:

• The Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the incidents, indicating proactive judiciary involvement without a specific petition being filed.
• Justice J.K. Maheshwari and Justice Vijay Bishnoi emphasized the severity of the situation and queried the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and the central government regarding road safety.

Issues Raised:

• The Court pointed to consistent reports of poor road conditions despite regular toll payments.
• Illegal eateries along highways were highlighted as a major contributing factor to the accidents, obstructing driver visibility.

Directives Issued:

• The NHAI and the Ministry of Roads were instructed to report on:
  • The condition of the highways involved in the accidents.
  • The number of illegal eateries operating in non-designated areas alongside the highways.
  • Maintenance norms followed by contractors responsible for the road upkeep.
• Notices were also dispatched to the Chief Secretaries of the states impacted by these highways to gather comprehensive data.

Additional Judicial Commentary:

• Senior advocate A.N.S. Nadkarni suggested expanding the investigation to a national scale to address similar issues across India. However, the Court would first review outcomes specific to the current cases before proceeding.

Implications:

• This ruling underscores the judiciary's role in addressing public safety and infrastructure maintenance.
• It may lead to reforms in highway management and regulations concerning road safety and the legality of roadside establishments.

Conclusion:

The Supreme Court's intervention highlights systemic issues related to road safety management in India, prompting governmental accountability for accidents on national highways due to inadequate infrastructure and regulation enforcement. The case's outcomes may influence future policies and practices related to highway safety and road maintenance across the country.