SC seeks Centre's reply on plea to ensure adequate life support facilities in ambulances
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Centre and others on a petition seeking directions to enact and implement a framework to ensure that adequate life support facilities are maintained in ambulances at all times.
The apex court agreed to hear the plea which has also sought directions to establish an independent committee to conduct a review of current actual status of the operation, maintenance and regulation of road ambulances to identify the gap between the ground reality and the existing standard operating procedures.
"Issue notice, returnable in four weeks," a bench of Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran said in its October 10 order.
The plea has arrayed the Centre, the ministry of health and family welfare and ministry of road transport and highways as party respondents.
Senior advocate Percival Billimoria and advocate Jasmine Damkewala appeared for petitioners Saiansha Panangipalli and Priya Sarkar.
Panangipalli is the daughter of eminent cardio-thoracic surgeon Dr P Venugopal, who was a former director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Sarkar is Venugopal's wife.
"The petitioners realised the woeful inadequacy of emergency facilities in ambulances when Dr P Venugopal himself succumbed on the way to the hospital emergency room, due to the abysmal lack of emergency life support facilities in the ambulance, being consequently being deprived of oxygen," the plea said.
It said the petitioners do not wish to engage in adversarial litigation but have subsequently found that lack of adequate emergency resources in ambulances across India is a huge concern owing to the absence of enforceable regulation.
The plea said many lives, which could have been saved, were lost unnecessarily because ambulances were unable to supplement emergency services at hospitals, in terms of the lack of necessary life-saving facilities.
It said the 16th common review mission report of the ministry of health and family welfare under the National Health Mission had noted the inadequacies and mismanagement in ambulances of all states.
It said the report highlighted various infirmities in operation of ambulances in India and provided a detailed state-wise analysis on the condition of road ambulances.
The plea said in December 2023, the NITI Aayog had released two comprehensive reports which highlighted the spectrum and load of emergency cases and brought out the prevailing gaps in ambulance services, health infrastructure, human resources and equipment in the provision of optimal care.
The plea said the reports of NITI Aayog identifies the gaps in the operation of road ambulances in India and specifically, highlights issues, including that 90 percent ambulances were being run without proper equipment and basic facilities such as oxygen.
It said inadequate equipment and facilities in an ambulance enhances the possibility of premature death in transit or at least reduces the possibility of a full recovery from a serious ailment, which is violative of the fundamental right to life.
The plea said even though some states prescribe pre-conditions for registration of ambulances, there was no mechanism to either monitor or enforce this requirement once the vehicle was registered.
It has sought directions to authorities concerned to "enact and implement a framework to ensure adequate life support facilities are maintained in ambulances at all times, which facilities should include a list of necessary equipment, supplies and emergency medication".
Besides other prayers, the plea has sought directions to the authorities to establish or continue with a telephone or online helpline facility for public to report complaints pertaining to inadequate or improper facilities in ambulances or overcharging, rash-driving, delay in arrival or reporting of other discrepancies.
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Udaipur Police arrest three, including company CEO, in alleged gang rape of employee
Udaipur: The Udaipur Police have arrested three people, including the chief executive officer and a senior executive of a private company and the executive’s husband, in connection with the alleged gang rape of a female employee in a moving car, officials said on Thursday.
The arrests were made after the survivor filed a complaint. Following her complaint, her statement was recorded and a medical examination conducted, as reported by India Today. District Superintendent of Police Yogesh Goyal said the medical report noted injury marks that prima facie support the allegation of gang rape.
Police said the accused, identified as Jeetesh Sisodia, the CEO of GKM IT Private Limited, his colleague Gaurav, and Gaurav’s wife Shilpa, were being produced before a court for further legal proceedings.
According to the complaint, the incident took place after a birthday and New Year party hosted by the CEO at a hotel in the Shobhagpura area on December 20. The survivor said she reached the hotel around 9 pm and the gathering continued until about 1.30 am. The CEO, a senior female executive, and her husband were among those present.
The survivor stated that after she began feeling intoxicated, she was offered a lift home. She alleged that instead, she was persuaded to join an after-party. Around 1.45 am, she was seated in a car with the CEO and the executive’s husband, while the executive later joined them. The group allegedly stopped at a shop to buy smoking material, after which she was made to smoke and subsequently lost consciousness.
In her complaint, the woman said that when she regained partial awareness, she found the CEO molesting her and alleged that all three accused sexually assaulted her. Despite repeatedly asking to be taken home, she was dropped only around 5 am.
The survivor further reported that after fully regaining consciousness, she noticed injuries to her private parts. She also found that some of her belongings, including an earring, socks and undergarments, were missing.
Police said a webcam installed in the car used during the incident recorded audio and video, which might be useful during the on going investigation.
