During the hearing, the bench emphasized the gravity of the issue, stating, “You can take the states on board. The problem is throughout the country.”
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday (27th Jan) highlighted the widespread issue of snakebites in India and urged the Central Government to work with all states to improve access to snakebite treatment in medical facilities.
A bench comprising Justices B R Gavai and S V N Bhatti was hearing a petition that raised concerns over the lack of anti-venom, which is critical for treating snakebite victims.
During the hearing, the bench emphasized the gravity of the issue, stating, “You can take the states on board. The problem is throughout the country.”
The court further suggested that the Centre engage with state representatives to find solutions.
The bench remarked, “You can have a meeting with all the representatives of the states and try to do something. It is not an adversarial litigation.”
Responding to the court, the Centre’s counsel assured that the government would provide details about the steps taken to address the issue.
The plea, filed by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi through advocate Chand Qureshi, pointed out that India suffers from the highest number of snakebite deaths globally, with approximately 58,000 fatalities annually.
It stated, “Despite this much of high mortality rate, there is scarcity of anti-venom (polyvenom).”
The petition further highlighted that many rural areas lack adequate stocks of anti-venom, leading to delays in treatment and preventable deaths.
Directions Sought in the Plea
The plea urged the Supreme Court to direct the authorities to:
- Ensure availability of anti-venom: Stock anti-venom and provide snakebite treatment facilities in health centres, government hospitals, and medical colleges.
- Launch a public health mission: Conduct campaigns for snakebite prevention and raise awareness, particularly in rural areas, to reduce mortality rates.
- Set up specialised units: Establish snakebite treatment and care units in district hospitals and medical colleges, staffed with trained doctors as per medical standards.
States to File Counter Affidavits
During the hearing, lawyers representing some states informed the bench that they would submit their responses on the matter.
The Supreme Court granted six weeks for the states to file their affidavits and scheduled the next hearing after that.
Previous Direction by the Supreme Court
On December 13, 2022, the apex court had sought responses from the Central Government and other stakeholders regarding the same plea.
A Bench comprising Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Viswanathan sought responses to the petition, which emphasized that “India has the highest rate of snakebite deaths globally, with approximately 58,000 fatalities each year.”
Case Title: Shailendra Mani Tripathi v. Union of India [Diary No. 48030/2024]
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