Supreme Court approved guidelines of Union Government to protect Good Samaritans

The Supreme Court on 30 March 2016 approved the guidelines of Union Government to protect Good Samaritans, who help road accident victims, from being unnecessarily harassed by police or any other authority.

The apex court asked Union government to give wide publicity to these guidelines so that people who help others in the time of distress are not victimised by any authority.

Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways placed the guidelines based on the recommendations of the three-member committee chaired by former judge KS Radhakrishnan.

It placed the report before the apex court with an aim to issue these guidelines through an order binding on all states and Union Territories, until the Union government enacts a law to this effect because it is difficult to enforce these guidelines in the absence of any statutory backing.

Earlier in March 2016, the Apex Court had said it will pass an order on the recommendations of a committee headed by its former judge on road safety which advocated that people saving lives of road accident victims need not fear harassment by police or other authorities.

The court had in 2014 appointed the three-member committee to monitor steps taken by the Union and state governments to ensure road safety.

The committee gave 12 major recommendations including setting up of State Road Safety Councils, evolving a protocol for identification of black spots, their removal and monitoring to see the effectiveness of the action taken.

The committee had also suggested strengthening of enforcement relating to drunken driving, over-speeding, red light jumping and helmet or seat belt laws.

Now get latest Current Affairs on mobile, Download # 1 Current Affairs App