'Trauma Care Part Of Right To Life': SC Orders 112 As One Unified Emergency Response Number

In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court recognised access to trauma care as part of the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution and ordered a time-bound overhaul of India’s emergency care system. The ruling in SaveLIFE Foundation vs Union of India directed all states and Union Territories to integrate emergency helplines such as 100, 101, 102, 108 and 1033 into the single national number 112 within three months. The court also ordered GPS tracking and National Ambulance Code compliance for all registered ambulances, creation of trauma registries and grading of hospitals based on trauma-care capacity. States were further directed to operationalise PM RAHAT, the Centre’s cashless treatment scheme for road accident victims. The Supreme Court retained continuing oversight of implementation.