Telangana HC questions Aadhaar requirement for emergency ambulance services

The Telangana High Court is hearing a PIL challenging the mandatory Aadhaar requirement for ambulance services, highlighting risks to accident victims. The State has been asked to clarify its policy on identification for emergency transport

Hyderabad: Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin of the Telangana High Court on Thursday heard a public interest litigation questioning the insistence on production of an Aadhaar card for providing ambulance services in medical emergencies.

The PIL was filed by paralegal volunteer K Raju, who brought to the Court’s notice an incident in which a girl was allegedly denied ambulance assistance as she did not possess an Aadhaar card. The petition alleged serious deficiencies in the delivery of emergency medical services and sought directions to ensure that timely ambulance and emergency care is made available to all persons, irrespective of documentation.

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During the hearing, the Division Bench repeatedly asked whether possession of an Aadhaar card was being treated as a mandatory requirement for transporting accident victims or persons facing medical emergencies to the nearest hospital. The Bench posed a pointed question as to whether a person lying injured on the road would be denied ambulance services merely because he or she was unable to produce an Aadhaar card.

When the Assistant Government Pleader, appearing for the Department of Health, Medical and Family Welfare, stated that Aadhaar details were required, the Bench expressed concern and observed that such a requirement would effectively deprive accident victims and unconscious persons of lifesaving emergency transport.

The Court clarified that the issue before it was not about treatment at hospitals, but about access to ambulance services at the critical initial stage.

Counsel for the petitioner, B Koumuraiah, submitted that the incident cited in the PIL occurred in December 2024 and involved a girl belonging to a Scheduled Caste community. He also pointed out the alleged inaction and failure of emergency response services in the said case.

While the Assistant Government Pleader submitted that treatment was being provided even in cases where Aadhaar was not available, the Bench observed that the State must clearly place on record its policy on whether any form of identification is mandatory for ambulance transport during medical emergencies.

Granting time to the State, the Court directed the government to file a counter-affidavit within two weeks and adjourned the matter to be listed for further hearing after three weeks.