What big order has the Supreme Court of India given regarding emergency helpline numbers? Now which new common number will be used for services like police, ambulance and fire brigade? What instructions has the Supreme Court given to the states and the central government? What did the court say about ‘Good Samaritan Act’ and trauma care system?
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has given a big order regarding emergency helpline numbers. This order will be applicable to all the states and union territories of the country. The court has asked to implement it within three months. Till now we used to dial 100 for police, 101 for fire brigade and 108 for ambulance. But now the Supreme Court has directed to close these different numbers and bring all the services on a single number. This decision is a big relief for those people who had difficulty remembering many numbers.
What did the Supreme Court say while giving the order?
This order was given by Justice J.K. Maheshwari and Justice A.S. Chandurkar’s bench has given. The bench said in its order that citizens have the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution. But if they do not get timely treatment, this right is taken away from them. It is very important for people to get treatment in emergency. To ensure this, a need was felt to change the existing help system.
Dial this emergency number
Now you just have to call 112 and all emergency services will be available on this number. The Supreme Court has said that there is an urgent need to integrate the trauma care system, increase awareness among people about helplines and certify first-aid skills. Therefore, all States and Union Territories have been ordered to link all emergency numbers like 100, 101, 108, 102, 1033 and 1091 with 112, both technically and operationally, within three months.
The court has also directed that state governments should publicize 112 helplines and submit their report within three months. The court said that state governments should also form grievance redressal teams under the ‘Good Samaritan Act’ (a law to protect those who help in road accidents).
The Supreme Court has also given important instructions to the Health Ministry and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of the Central Government. They have been asked to issue medical care protocol for trauma (severe injury) within three months. The central government will bring this protocol and all states and union territories will implement it within three months.