The Supreme Court on Monday highlighted the alarming prevalence of snakebites across India and urged the Centre to collaborate with all states to address the critical shortage of anti-venom and improve treatment facilities.
A bench comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and S.V.N. Bhatti, while hearing a plea on the issue, emphasized the need for coordinated action, stating, “The problem is widespread throughout the country. You need to take the states on board, have a meeting with their representatives, and try to do something. This is not adversarial litigation.”
The Centre’s counsel assured the court that the government would submit details of the measures taken to tackle the issue. Meanwhile, representatives from several states sought time to file their responses, prompting the bench to grant six weeks and schedule a follow-up hearing.
The plea, filed by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi, highlighted India’s grave public health crisis stemming from snakebites, which result in approximately 58,000 deaths annually—the highest in the world. The petition, filed through advocate Chand Qureshi, cited the scarcity of anti-venom in rural areas as a significant cause of delayed treatment and fatalities.
The plea urged the government to launch a “snakebite prevention health mission” and public awareness campaigns to mitigate mortality rates, particularly in rural regions. It also sought the establishment of specialized snakebite treatment units in government district hospitals and medical colleges, staffed by trained doctors following standard medical norms.
The court’s intervention comes as the country grapples with inadequate resources and infrastructure to combat the snakebite crisis, particularly in remote areas where timely medical intervention is crucial. The case will be revisited after the states file their affidavits.
