Supreme Court declines plea for mandatory Nucleic Acid Tests in blood banks

New Delhi:  The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a plea seeking mandatory Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing (NAT) in all blood banks to ensure the supply of infection-free blood to recipients, saying that it does not have specialised knowledge about medical science.

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi asked the petitioner 'Sarvesham Mangalam Foundation' to submit a comprehensive representation to the secretary of health departments of States and Union Territories on the issue.

The court observed that the secretary may, with the aid and advice of domain experts, take an appropriate decision on the issue.

"Do you think PILs are not funded from abroad. Do you think so?" the CJI told the petitioner's counsel during the hearing, news agency PTI reported.

Also Read:Supreme Court examines mandatory NAT testing in blood banks

The bench said the petitioner should go and make a representation before the authorities.

"We are definitely not experts on the subject... why should we pretend that we know medical science," the CJI said.

The top court observed it was for the domain experts to decide what testing should be done in blood banks.

The bench said in the absence of any specialised knowledge about the subject, it was satisfied that no directions as desired by the petitioner could be passed by the court.

It said the nature of relief sought in the petition entails financial implications, and every state has its own financial limitations.

On February 25, the top court sought more details regarding the costs and availability of the facility to conduct NAT in government hospitals across India to detect Transmissible Infections like HIV and hepatitis.

The bench, asked lawyer A Velan, appearing for the PIL petitioner, to provide details as to how much cost will be incurred in conducting NAT tests and whether the facility was available in government hospitals so that the poor can also avail it.

The foundation made the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and all the states and UTs (union territories) as parties to the plea.

The PIL sought an order to the Centre and the states to declare that the "Right to Safe Blood" is an intrinsic facet of the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution.

It also sought directions to "implement mandatory NAT in all blood banks across the territory of India for the detection of Transfusion Transmissible Infections (TTIs), including Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), hepatitis C Virus (HCV), hepatitis B Virus (HBV), malaria, and syphilis, in the blood collected from all donors, to ensure the supply of safe and infection-free blood to all recipients", reports PTI.

The Delhi-based NGO highlighted a "systemic and ongoing failure" of the state to protect vulnerable patients, particularly those with Thalassemia, from life-threatening TTIs such as HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder requiring patients to undergo blood transfusions every 15 to 20 days for survival.

The petitioner said that for thousands in India, these transfusions have effectively become a "gamble with death." 

"Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder which is caused by the body's inability to produce enough haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and carbon dioxide to the lungs. As India is the Thalassemia capital of the world, there is a need to strengthen blood safety practices across the country, particularly the need for a standardised test to screen blood donations," it said.

The PIL cited a string of recent "preventable tragedies" across the country and said in Madhya Pradesh, in 2025, at least six Thalassemic children tested HIV-positive after transfusions at Satna District Hospital.

In Jharkhand, five children were infected with HIV following transfusions at Sadar Hospital, Chaibasa, in 2025, it said, adding that in Uttar Pradesh, 14 children contracted hepatitis and HIV at a medical college in 2023.

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