Supreme Court Serious Over Uninsured Vehicles

The Supreme Court has expressed serious concern over the growing number of vehicles operating on Indian roads without valid third-party insurance. The court noted that nearly 56% of the country's 30.48 crore registered vehicles do not have insurance coverage. It observed that the lack of insurance prevents accident victims and their families from receiving timely compensation, affecting their fundamental right to life under Article 21.

To address the issue, the Supreme Court issued several directions, including exploring a ‘No Insurance, No Fuel’ policy to stop fuel supply to uninsured vehicles. It also suggested linking Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras with the VAHAN database for issuing e-challans against violations. The court further asked authorities to consider extending mandatory third-party insurance periods for new private cars and two-wheelers and proposed a simplified insurance framework.