The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a public interest petition seeking a directive to make six airbags mandatory in all passenger vehicles, stating that the matter falls squarely within the policy-making domain of the government, PTI reports.
A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran observed that the reliefs sought in the petition involved decisions that must be taken by the executive branch and not the judiciary. “The prayers made in the writ petition are exclusively within the domain of policy to be framed by the executive. We are, therefore, not inclined to entertain the present petition,” the bench said.
The petitioner argued that failure to mandate six airbags violated fundamental rights under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution — which ensure equality before the law and protection of life and personal liberty, respectively. He had already submitted a representation to the Centre on 17 May, seeking stronger vehicle safety standards.
The bench noted the representation and said it would be for the government to consider it on its own merits.
The plea also urged the court to direct authorities to enhance overall vehicle safety mechanisms in the interest of public safety. However, the court maintained that such regulatory decisions are best left to policymakers.
The issue of mandating six airbags has been under consideration by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, but no formal regulation has yet been notified. Industry responses to the proposed mandate have been mixed, with concerns raised about cost implications, particularly for entry-level vehicles.
