Phalodi Accident: Supreme Court mulls nationwide safety rules

The Supreme Court recently mulled formulating pan-India guidelines to prevent road accidents, while hearing a suo motu case concerning the recent one in Rajasthan's Phalodi that claimed 15 lives.

A bench of Justices J K Maheswari and Vijay Bishnoi flagged illegal "dhabas" on both sides of national highways and expressways as a possible cause of road accidents and asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing in the matter for the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), to submit the statutory rules and regulations for initiating action against these eateries.

The bench perused the report submitted by the National Highways Authority of India and passed certain directions on the manner in which the compilations have to be filed.

"The first compilation shall consist of statutory provisions, including rules, regulations and guidelines, if any. Second shall indicate the violation of those guidelines and correspondence thereto, if any. The third one shall indicate the persons responsible including the private persons due to whom the incidents may have been caused. In addition, learned Solicitor General, learned Amicus Curiae and the counsels appearing may discuss the issues of public importance and guidelines suggested shall be filed. In the meantime, parties are at liberty to exchange the google images or other documents with each other to identify the real problems on or before the next date", the bench ordered and listed the matter on 16th February, 2026.

Court had earlier directed the National Highways Authority of India to file a report before it over the recent accident in Rajasthan's Phalodi where a tempo traveller collided with a stationary bus on November 2, 2025.

"18-19 lives have been lost. The reasons for such loss of life have been reported..they include bad road conditions..lack of parking space..in such circumstances it is essential to ask NHAI, Ministry of Highways and Transport to submit a report with respect to the Highways where the accident took place", a Justice JK Maheshwari led bench observed today while hearing a suo motu case registered by it.

The bench also comprising Justice Vijay Bishnoi had ordered, "The report should indicate how many dhabas are situated on the highways, the road conditions, the norms followed by the contractors during the period of maintenance. The MHA be also joined as a party and be noticed." Court noted today that dhabas are situated on the side of the road which is not notified for this. "People stop their trucks and go to the dhabas. And the other vehicles coming on speed collide with them. We have to understand how this can be regulated.", the bench had added.

Owing to the accident, at least 15 people died, while two others have been seriously injured. “Fifteen people have lost their lives in a road accident in Phalodi district. Two are injured. The injured persons are undergoing treatment. The affected family have our full support,” the Police Commissioner was quoted saying. Notably, the traveller was carrying pilgrims from the Mali community, belonging to the Soorsagar area of Jodhpur, who had gone on a pilgrimage to Kolayat in Bikaner district.

As per eyewitness trucks are often haphazardly parked along the route after small roadside eateries sprung up along the Bharatmala Highway. News reports state that the tempo traveller was attempting to overtake another truck when it collided with the stationary trailer parked in front of a dhaba. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma e instructed officials to ensure all possible assistance to the victims' families and proper medical care for the injured.

Case Title: IN RE: PHALODI ACCIDENT

Hearing Date: December 15, 2025

Bench: Justices Maheshwari and Bishnoi