LANDMARK CASE

Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samity v. State of West Bengal

(1996) 4 SCC 37 · Supreme Court of India · Medical law

At a glance

  • Citation: (1996) 4 SCC 37
  • Court: Supreme Court of India
  • Area of law: Medical law
  • In one line: Yes. Failure of government hospitals to provide timely treatment violated Article 21. Compensation was awarded.

1 Facts

A seriously injured person was refused admission at several government hospitals.

2 Issue

Does the right to life include emergency medical treatment?

3 What the court decided

Yes. Failure of government hospitals to provide timely treatment violated Article 21. Compensation was awarded.

4 Why it matters

It confirmed health care as part of Article 21.

5 Think about it

What duties do government hospitals have?

6 Analyse it yourself

Read the full judgment from an official source or a law database, then brief it in seven steps: facts, issues, arguments, decision, ratio, obiter and significance. Always check the citation before you rely on it.

7 More cases on Medical law

All 366 landmark cases · Today's Case of the Day · Weekly quiz

← Parmanand Katara v. Union of IndiaPeople's Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India →

A short teaching summary for students. Educational content only, not legal advice.