Supreme Court Directs TN Chief Secretary: Highway Safety Appearance Ordered

• The Supreme Court directed the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary to appear due to the state's failure to file a highway safety compliance affidavit.
• The state had not submitted details on steps taken to adhere to the Court's April 13 highway safety order.
• Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta also granted the Ministry of Home Affairs and MoRTH two weeks to file their affidavits, warning their secretaries of personal appearances if they failed.
• This suo motu case originated from two highway accidents in November 2025 in Rajasthan and Telangana that collectively claimed 34 lives.

The Court's firm stance underscores a growing judicial emphasis on direct accountability for senior government officials in ensuring compliance with its directives, particularly in matters of public safety.

The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a significant directive, ordering the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu to appear before it via video conferencing. This stern action by a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta came after the state failed to submit a crucial compliance affidavit detailing its adherence to earlier highway safety instructions. The Court noted that no representative from Tamil Nadu was present during the hearing, nor had the required affidavit been filed to outline the steps taken to implement the Court's April 13 order concerning road safety measures.

Despite the summons, the apex court clarified that Tamil Nadu retains the option to file its compliance affidavit before the next scheduled hearing. This submission, however, must include a comprehensive explanation for the delay in its initial filing. The Court's order specifically stated, "So far as State of Tamil Nadu is concerned no one is present on behalf of the said state. We direct Chief Secretary of State of Tamil Nadu to appear through video conferencing on next date."

The judicial scrutiny extended beyond Tamil Nadu. The Court was also informed that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) had similarly neglected to file their respective affidavits. Although the Solicitor General represented these central ministries, their failure to comply prompted the bench to grant them a final two-week period to submit the necessary documentation. Justices Nath and Mehta issued a clear warning, stating that the secretaries of both ministries would be compelled to appear in person should they fail to meet this new deadline. This highlights the Supreme Court's stringent enforcement of its highway safety directives, indicating that government officials, including Chief Secretaries and Ministry Secretaries, face direct accountability for non-compliance.

This ongoing legal proceeding is rooted in a suo motu case initiated by the Supreme Court itself, following two catastrophic highway accidents that occurred in November 2025. These tragic incidents, one in Phalodi, Rajasthan, and another in Rangareddy, Telangana, collectively resulted in the loss of 34 lives. The Court took cognizance of these grave events, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced road safety measures across the nation.

In response to these fatalities and the broader concerns regarding road safety, the Supreme Court had, in April of the current year, issued a comprehensive set of directions. These detailed instructions were intended to prompt state and central authorities to implement robust measures to prevent future highway accidents and ensure greater public safety on India's roads. The current proceedings are a direct follow-up to monitor the compliance of these critical directives, with the Court seeking affidavits to confirm the actions taken by various governmental bodies.

The Supreme Court's recent actions, particularly the directive for the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary to appear, signal a heightened judicial resolve to ensure strict adherence to its orders concerning public safety. This development underscores a growing judicial emphasis on direct accountability for senior government officials in ensuring compliance with its directives, particularly in matters of public safety. The explicit warning to the secretaries of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways further reinforces this stance, demonstrating that the Court is prepared to escalate measures when faced with non-compliance.

This firm approach by Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta sends a clear message to all state and central government entities regarding their obligations in implementing court mandates. It highlights that delays or failures in submitting required documentation, such as the India highway safety compliance affidavit, will not be tolerated and can lead to direct personal summons for top administrative officials. For legal advisors to state or central government bodies involved in road safety, this case serves as a critical reminder: timely and thorough compliance with Supreme Court orders is paramount to avoid such direct interventions and personal accountability for officials.

This development signals the Supreme Court's stringent enforcement of its highway safety directives, indicating that government officials, including Chief Secretaries and Ministry Secretaries, face direct accountability for non-compliance. Lawyers advising state or central government bodies involved in road safety must ensure timely and thorough compliance with court orders to avoid personal summons for officials.

Source: Original reporting via legal news sources