Helmets for women: Delhi govt to take stand before HC on Friday

The Delhi government will on Friday inform the Delhi High Court if it intends to make helmets compulsory for women driving two-wheelers or riding pillion in the Capital following which the court will take a decision.

The Delhi government will on Friday inform the Delhi High Court if it intends to make helmets compulsory for women driving two-wheelers or riding pillion in the Capital following which the court will take a decision.

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“A decision will be taken by Friday and intimated to the Delhi High Court, which is seized of the matter,” Delhi Government sources told HT.

The government is facing contempt proceedings for not amending rules to make helmets compulsory for women two-wheeler riders within the deadline set by the court which ended on June 25, 2012.

The court, on April 25, had recorded the statement of Delhi government lawyer Zubeida Begum that the issue was being relooked by the transport department. The statement said that the necessary amendment to Rule 115(2) of the Delhi Motor Vehicles Rules will be made after holding a discussion with all the stake holders.

The court had then given the government two months to undertake the task. “I was forced to move a contempt petition as the Delhi government is keeping mum despite the court direction on April 25 to take a decision within two months after amending the rules,” said Ulhas P R, a social filmmaker who had filed a PIL in this regard.

“I have statistics to prove that at least 20 more women two-wheeler riders died after the last court hearing in July as they did not wear helmets. The government's delay in taking a decision on this front is mysterious,” said Ulhas.

Sources said the government stand before the court was a “communication gap” between transport minister Arvinder Singh and his officials.

According to sources, the government is in no mood to stir up a controversy, given the sensitivities of the Sikh community on the helmet issue.