SC: Why Pretend We Know Medical Science? Rejects Mandatory NAT in Blood Banks Plea

• Supreme Court refused a plea by 'Sarvesham Mangalam Foundation' seeking mandatory Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing (NAT) in all blood banks.
• The bench, including Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, stated they are not medical experts and cannot decide on such technical matters.
• SC advised the petitioner to submit a comprehensive representation to health secretaries of States and Union Territories for expert review.
• The plea argued for "Right to Safe Blood" under Article 21 and highlighted risks to Thalassemia patients from Transfusion Transmissible Infections (TTIs) like HIV and hepatitis.
• The court also noted the financial implications of mandatory NAT and states' limitations, having previously sought cost and availability details.