Institute of Legal and Management Studies

The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the tragic highway accident in Rajasthan's Phalodi which left atleast 15 people dead after a tempo traveler slammed into a stationary truck on November 2.

The matter is listed before a bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi for hearing on November 10. It has been registered as a public interest litigation.

Reportedly, at the time of the accident, the tempo was carrying women and children from Jodhpur, who had gone on a pilgrimage to Bikaner. On its way back to Jodhpur in the evening, the tempo rammed into a stationary truck parked infront of an eatery at the Bharatmala highway. This truck was carrying construction material. As such, the collision had a very severe impact.

Statedly, the tempo was speeding and attempting to overtake another vehicle, when the accident took place. Atleast 15 people died on the spot, including the tempo driver, and 2 got injured.

Notably, besides the accident, the top Court took suo motu cognizance this year of issues including - investigation agencies' summoning of advocates over legal advice, Himachal Pradesh ecological concerns, Stray Dog bite incidents, pollution of Rajasthan's Jojari River, lack of functional CCTVs in Rajasthan's police stations and "digital arrest" scams.

Case Title: IN RE: PHALODI ACCIDENT Versus, SMW(C) No. 9/2025