In a stark revelation highlighting systemic delays, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stated that a colossal sum of up to ₹80,000 crore in compensation is pending for road accident victims across India. This backlog pertains to a staggering 10 lakh cases as of the 2023-24 period.
The Mounting Crisis in Victim Compensation
Speaking at an event in Bengaluru on Thursday, Minister Rao underscored the profound challenges victims face in navigating the legal labyrinth to receive their dues. He pointed out that the current interim compensation of ₹25,000 provided to victims is grossly inadequate and should be substantially increased to ₹3-4 lakh to offer meaningful immediate support.
"Few people truly follow the concept of 'neuro justice'—justice for road accident victims and the challenges they face in securing compensation through our legal framework," Rao remarked. He explained that those who endure the protracted process firsthand gain a painful understanding of its difficulties.
Double Trauma for Vulnerable Families
The minister emphasized that families, particularly from lower middle-class or poor backgrounds, suffer a double trauma. They grapple not only with the loss or injury of a loved one but also with an exhausting struggle for financial redressal. Many are forced to abandon their claims due to a lack of awareness or resources to navigate the complex legal process.
Launch of the Neuro Justice Framework
The minister's comments came during the launch of the Neuro Justice Trilogy and the Neuro Justice Framework Handbook. These documents were authored by functional neurosurgeon Dr. Sharan Srinivasan and neurorehabilitation expert Dr. Prathiba Sharan at NIMHANS.
The newly introduced Neuro Justice Framework 1.0 is an operational model designed for assessing functional disability within legal contexts. This framework, which is currently patent-pending, aims to bring more scientific rigor and fairness to compensation evaluations.
Call for Systemic and Infrastructural Reforms
Other dignitaries at the event echoed the need for comprehensive reforms. Seemanth Kumar Singh, Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru, stressed that accidents can be prevented by changing public mindset and behavior. He also highlighted a critical infrastructural gap, advocating for more trauma centres near highways.
"This would ensure the 'golden hour'—the crucial period immediately after an injury—is utilized effectively. Victims often lose precious time being rushed to city hospitals," Singh noted.
Supreme Court judge Justice Aravind Kumar, who also spoke, emphasized the necessity for fairness in the system when assessing a victim's disability to ensure that true justice is ultimately served.
The collective insights from the event paint a clear picture: India's system for compensating road accident victims is burdened by massive delays and requires urgent legislative, judicial, and infrastructural overhaul to deliver timely justice.
