Supreme Courtroom of India. File Picture | Picture Credit score: PTI
The Supreme Courtroom on Friday (13 March 2026) refused to direct the federal government to compulsorily perform “costly” nucleic acid testing (NAT) to establish ailments earlier than blood transfusions, citing an absence of medical experience and related prices.
The bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant of India famous that states have monetary limitations and judges can’t “fake to grasp drugs” and move judicial orders mandating NAT.
The courtroom gave the petitioner, the Sarveshyam Mangalam Basis (represented by advocate A. Velan), the liberty to make complete representations to the well being secretaries of every nation, who “could, with the help and recommendation of consultants, take acceptable choices” on the difficulty.
“I’ve no ulterior motives.”
Through the listening to, the courtroom repeatedly questioned the intentions of the NGOs that filed the petition. At one level, the courtroom requested Mr Veran: “Do you suppose there isn’t any international funding for PIL? Do you suppose so?”
Veran responded that the petitioner had no ulterior motive and merely needed to spotlight the case of thalassemia sufferers who require frequent blood transfusions and are prone to transfusions of contaminated blood. The petition describes these medical incidents as “preventable tragedies.”
Activation of proper to life
NAT is a delicate molecular method that detects the genetic materials of viruses akin to HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C within the blood. In an earlier listening to, the courtroom had requested the petitioner to supply additional particulars in regards to the cost-effectiveness of NAT in comparison with the extra generally used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) take a look at. The Chief Justice had questioned whether or not all states may afford to introduce NAT in authorities blood banks and hospitals.
The petitioner argued that the fitting to secure blood transfusion is a basic a part of the fitting to life beneath Article 21 of the Structure.
The case assumed significance within the context that no less than six kids had been reported to be HIV constructive in Satna, Madhya Pradesh as a result of contaminated blood transfusion throughout remedy for thalassemia at a district hospital in December 2025.
