Good Samaritan law

First Aid & CPR India

The Good Samaritan: compassion and protection

Drawn from the Bible (Luke 10:25-37), the parable of the Good Samaritan tells of a traveller left for dead who is rescued by a stranger that tends to him and sees to his care. Beyond its religious context, it carries a universal message: the moral duty to help others in danger, through compassion and altruism.

Inspired by this principle, many so-called Good Samaritan laws have been enacted around the world to protect those who assist in good faith during an emergency from legal action. The exact scope of that protection, however, varies from one jurisdiction to another: here is what the law applicable to your region provides.

Statute citation

Governing act Motor Vehicles Act 1988, as amended by the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019, s 134A 'Protection of Good Samaritans'. These protections derive from the Supreme Court's directions in SaveLIFE Foundation v Union of India (2016), made binding under Article 141 of the Constitution and later codified. Implementing rules: Central Motor Vehicle Rules 168 & 169 and notification GSR 594(E) dated 29 September 2020.
Scope of protection Section 134A shields the Good Samaritan from any civil or criminal action for injury to or death of the victim resulting from the Samaritan's negligence while rendering assistance. The protection is, however, limited to accidents involving a motor vehicle: it does not cover general medical emergencies (out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, disasters, etc.). The Samaritan cannot be compelled to disclose their identity and must be treated respectfully, without discrimination.
Duty to rescue No
AED liability protection No
No legal duty to rescue

Your protection under the law

In India, Good Samaritan protection rests on section 134A of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, introduced by the 2019 amendment and itself born of the Supreme Court's directions in SaveLIFE Foundation v Union of India (2016). The provision shields the Samaritan from any civil or criminal action for harm resulting from their negligence while rendering assistance, and guarantees the right not to disclose their identity. The protection is narrow, however: it is confined to accidents involving a motor vehicle and does not cover general medical emergencies such as cardiac arrest away from the road.

No duty to act, but every reason to

In India no law compels a passer-by to render aid: stepping in remains a choice, and where it applies the law rewards that choice by removing the risk of prosecution for the good-faith helper. It is worth remembering that this immunity is aimed above all at road accidents; outside that setting there is no national regime protecting, for instance, the use of a defibrillator in a cardiac emergency. That reality makes all the more precious the act of someone who, under no obligation, still decides to help.

Why training matters

On India's roads, among the deadliest in the world, the first minutes after a crash often decide who survives: every minute without action can cut the odds by around 10%. Too often, bystanders hesitate for want of knowing what to do, when simple, well-performed steps could save a life before help arrives. Training in CPR and first aid teaches you to stop bleeding, clear an airway, resuscitate and act quickly and correctly. By getting trained, you become that first link who can make the difference between life and death, on the road and at home.