Helmet for women two-wheeler riders: HC asks petitioner to challenge provision of MV rule

New Delhi: The Delhi High court today asked a petitioner, seeking a direction to make helmets mandatory for women two-wheeler riders in the city, to file a fresh plea challenging the provision of the Delhi Motor Vehicle rule which exempts them from wearing a head gear. Disposing of a contempt plea, Justice Sudershan Misra declined to initiate any contempt proceedings against the officers of the Transport Department and accepted the state government's affidavit which said “law exempting women two-wheeler riders from wearing helmets in the city would remain in force as any change is being objected to by Sikh women”.“The court asked me to file a fresh plea before the appropriate bench challenging the provision of the Delhi Motor Vehicle rules.,” said Ulhas P R, the petitioner.“The court, however, asked the concerned department to provide me the detail about the date-wise meetings held by the officers on this issue and the decision taken by them on it so far,” the petitioner, a documentary filmmaker, said.Earlier, through an affidavit, the Transport department had told the court that the decision of not amending the law has been taken after keeping in mind the sensitivities of the Sikh community.“. It was found that the objection is from Sikh women.In the said discussion on March 20, 2012), the issue of wearing of helmets by the women was discussed inter alia policy for making use of helmet compulsory for women,” the affidavit said.According to rules, Sikhs wearing turbans and women are exempted from wearing helmets while riding motor-cycles and scooters.