New Delhi, Oct 15 (UNI) The Supreme Court today issued show-cause notices to 28 States and union Territories for failing to comply with its directions to frame uniform standards for patient safety in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and Critical Care Units (CCUs) across the country.
A Bench, comprising Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and N.K. Singh, directed the Additional Chief Secretaries or senior-most Health Department officials of the defaulting States and UTs to personally appear before the Court on November 20, 2025, along with personally affirmed affidavits explaining their inaction.
“Notice is issued to the concerned Additional Chief Secretary/Senior-most Official of the Department of Health of all the concerned States/Union Territories, as to why action is not taken against them for such a casual approach shown towards the Court,” the Bench observed, expressing strong displeasure over the continued non-compliance.
The Court made it clear that no excuses for absence would be entertained, stating, “It is made clear that the officers who have been directed to appear shall not cite any excuse, including any prior engagements or other programmes, which shall be rescheduled to give priority to the order passed today.”
The defaulting States and UTs include Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Mizoram, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Telangana, Tripura, West Bengal, Chandigarh, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Ladakh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.
The issue dates back to 2016, when the Court took cognisance of medical negligence in private hospitals and the lack of uniform ICU and CCU standards nationwide.
Although the main appeal was dismissed in 2024, the Court continued to monitor the broader issue of critical care regulation and patient safety.
In earlier directions, the Court had asked the Centre and States to jointly prepare a comprehensive framework covering ICU/CCU operations, admission protocols, treatment standards, staffing, hygiene, and infrastructure.
On August 5, 2025, the Court directed every State to hold consultations with stakeholders, including leading hospitals, and ensure that top health officials approved the resolutions.
However, by October 13, the Bench noted that over two dozen States and UTs had failed to submit their reports or had filed them belatedly, despite multiple extensions.
“We are more pained than shocked by the casualness shown by various States, that despite over indulgence shown by the Court with regard to the exercise, the orders of this Court have been taken very lightly by the officers concerned,” the Bench remarked.
To facilitate the process, the Court had earlier appointed a three-member expert committee comprising Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, Amicus Curiae Karan Bharihoke, and Dr Nitish Naik (Professor of Cardiology, AIIMS, New Delhi).
The States were instructed to submit draft frameworks by September 30 and forward them to the committee by October 5.
Issuing the latest round of show-cause notices, the Bench warned that further non-compliance or perfunctory responses would invite strict action against both the officers and their respective States.
Meanwhile, the Court directed the committee to proceed with deliberations based on the material already received and prepare a draft national framework for ICU safety standards.
The matter will be taken up next on November 20, 2025, when top health officials from across the country are expected to personally appear before the Supreme Court.
