Wearing helmets has become mandatory for Sikh women in Punjab. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued orders in this regard. The High Court has taken this decision in view of the increasing accidents.
Orders will be applicable in Chandigarh-Haryana
Let us tell you that these orders will be applicable in Punjab as well as Haryana and Chandigarh. According to the information, 6 years ago also it was made mandatory for Sikh women to wear helmets in Chandigarh. But due to opposition from Sikh organizations, the central government had withdrawn this decision.
Citing the amendment in the Motor Vehicle effective from February 15, 2022, the High Court said that except a person belonging to the Sikh religion, who is wearing a turban, no other person (male or female) driving a motorcycle in a public place is exempted from wearing a helmet in accordance with the standards prescribed by the Central Government.
A division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Khetrapal passed these orders while hearing a petition in which the High Court had taken cognizance of the increasing deaths in road accidents involving women riders.
Two Sikh girls died in 2017
The High Court had taken cognizance of the 2017 incident in which two Sikh girls died in a road accident near a hotel in Sector-22, who were not wearing helmets.
At that time, the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 made helmets compulsory for all people driving two-wheelers, but state governments were allowed to give exemptions in certain categories. The Chandigarh administration had earlier exempted all women from wearing helmets, but only Sikh women were exempted in Punjab and Haryana.