"Not An Adversarial Litigation": SC Calls For Nationwide Action To Ensure Anti-Venom And Snakebite Treatment Availability
|The Bench remarked, "It’s a problem throughout the country. Have a meeting with all the states and try to do something. It is not an adversarial litigation."
The Supreme Court today has urged the Union of India (UOI) to convene a meeting with all states to address the pressing issue of ensuring the availability of anti-venom and snakebite treatment at health centres, hospitals, and medical colleges across the country.
During the hearing of a petition seeking directions for lifesaving measures to combat snakebite fatalities, the Bench of Justice B. R. Gavai and Justice SVN Bhatti remarked, "It’s a problem throughout the country. Have a meeting with all the states and try to do something. It is not an adversarial litigation."
The Counsel for the UOI assured the Court, "We will do it," while also confirming that a counter-affidavit would be filed, with state governments being involved in the matter.
Previous Hearing
It is to be noted that on December 13, the Bench had agreed to hear the petition filed by Advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi and issued notices to all stakeholders. “Issue notice, returnable in four weeks,” the Bench had ordered.
About the PIL
The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by AoR Chand Qureshi highlights a critical public health crisis in India, citing a severe shortage of anti-venom essential for treating snakebites. The petition pointed out that India records approximately 58,000 snakebite-related deaths annually, the highest globally. Despite the alarming mortality rate, rural areas face a significant scarcity of anti-venom, often leading to fatal delays in treatment.
"India has the highest rate of snakebite deaths globally, with approximately 58,000 fatalities each year. Despite this much of high mortality rate there is scarcity of anti-venom (poly- venom). Poly-venom do not reach rural hospitals and healthcare centers where snakebites are most prevalent. Many rural areas lack adequate stocks of antivenom, leading to delays in treatment for victims who may turn to traditional remedies or local healers instead," the PIL reads.
The petitioner has sought directions for launching a nationwide Snakebite Prevention Health Mission and conducting public awareness campaigns to reduce snakebite mortality, particularly in rural regions.
Additionally, the petition demands the establishment of snakebite treatment and care units in government district hospitals and medical colleges, staffed by specially trained doctors adhering to standard medical protocols.
The petition prays for the following:
1. To make available poly-venom (anti-venom) and snakebites treatment at primary health centre, community health centers, and district hospitals along with the government hospitals, and government medical colleges of the country to save lives.
2. To conduct snake bites prevention health mission and snake bites public awareness campaign to reduce huge mortality specially in rural India.
3. To establish snake bites treatment and care unit along with specially trained doctors as per standard medical norms in the government district hospitals and government medical colleges.
Cause Title: Shailendra Mani Tripathi v. Union of India [Diary No. 48030/2024]