The Supreme Court dismissed a PIL seeking mandatory six airbags in passenger vehicles, calling it a policy matter. The petitioner was told to approach the government instead.
New Delhi: On July 24, the Supreme Court of India dismissed a petition that had requested the Court to make it mandatory for all passenger vehicles to have six airbags installed. The bench, led by Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran, made it clear that such matters fall under the government’s policy-making powers and are not for the judiciary to decide.
The Court observed,
“The prayers made in the writ petition are exclusively within the domain of policy to be framed by the executive. We are, therefore, not inclined to entertain the present petition.”
The petitioner had approached the Court arguing that not mandating six airbags in vehicles was a violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 14 (equality before the law) and Article 21 (protection of life and personal liberty) of the Indian Constitution.
He also urged the Court to direct the concerned authorities to take stronger steps to improve vehicle safety in India.
When the bench asked the petitioner whether a representation was made to the Central Government before approaching the Court, the petitioner replied that he had already submitted a representation to the government on May 17.
In response, the Court noted that,
“If the petitioner has made a representation to the Centre, the same would be considered on its own merits.”
The plea came amid ongoing concerns about passenger safety and road accidents in India.
The petitioner’s argument was based on the increasing number of road fatalities and the need for enhanced vehicle safety measures, such as the inclusion of six airbags in all passenger cars as a mandatory feature.
However, the Court reiterated that judicial intervention in such policy matters is inappropriate, and that it is for the executive branch of the government to take such decisions based on broader policy considerations.
The Supreme Court’s refusal to entertain the plea means that the decision to mandate six airbags now rests entirely with the government.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had earlier indicated its interest in enhancing vehicle safety norms, but no binding rule on six airbags for all vehicles has been issued so far.
Background on Vehicle Safety Regulations in India
In recent years, India has taken several steps to improve vehicle safety standards in response to the growing number of road accidents and fatalities.
As of January 2022, it became mandatory for all passenger vehicles in India to have at least two front airbags — one for the driver and one for the front passenger. This was a significant move by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to align with basic global safety norms.
However, proposals to mandate six airbags — two front, two side, and two curtain airbags — in all passenger cars have faced delays due to industry resistance.
The government had previously announced plans to implement this rule by October 2023, but the deadline was extended after concerns were raised by automobile manufacturers, especially those producing budget vehicles.
India’s vehicle safety framework is governed by the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, and increasingly refers to international crash safety standards like Global NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme).
The upcoming Bharat NCAP, India’s own crash-testing and rating system, is also expected to push for higher safety compliance among manufacturers.
Consumer Safety vs. Industry Costs Debate
The push for mandatory six airbags has sparked a major debate between consumer safety advocates and the automobile industry.
While safety experts argue that six airbags significantly reduce fatalities and injuries during side-impact collisions, many carmakers claim that such mandates would increase vehicle prices, especially for entry-level cars, making them unaffordable for the average Indian buyer.
Industry groups like the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) have publicly expressed concerns, stating that the move could adversely affect demand in the price-sensitive Indian market.
They argue that instead of a one-size-fits-all rule, airbags and other safety measures should be made proportional to vehicle type and segment.
On the other hand, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, in several public statements, has strongly supported the idea of six airbags in cars and emphasized that safety cannot be compromised. However, despite the government’s intent, the implementation of this policy remains pending.
This tension between affordability and safety continues to be a sticking point in India’s road safety policy, and the Supreme Court’s recent decision further confirms that such matters must be resolved by the executive, not the judiciary.
Statistics on Road Accidents and Deaths in India
India has one of the highest rates of road fatalities in the world. According to data from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), more than 1.68 lakh people lost their lives in road accidents across the country in 2022.
A significant portion of these deaths occurred due to lack of basic safety features, including airbags, seatbelts, and proper crash protection.
In many cases, passengers involved in side-impact or rollover accidents could have survived if their vehicles had additional airbags.
Reports by Global NCAP have consistently rated several Indian car models poorly in crash safety tests, especially those in the lower price range.
The petition was filed and presented before the Supreme Court by Delhi-based advocate Mr. Ravi Bhushan.
Case Title:
Ravi Bhushan vs Union of India WP (C) No. 486/2025 Diary No. 20881/2025
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