Supreme Court summons Health Secretaries of 28 States/UTs for failing to act on ICU safety measures

The Supreme Court has issued summons to Health Secretaries of 28 states and union territories, holding them accountable for inaction despite previous judicial directions to improve safety in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) across government hospitals. The Court observed that many hospitals still lack essential safety protocols, equipment, or oversight, posing risk to patients under critical care.The order underscores that compliance with judicial mandates on public health infrastructure is non-optional, and that executive inertia cannot frustrate court directions. The SC’s proactive step seeks to enforce systemic accountability and the constitutional right to health and life under Article 21.