The Chandigarh traffic police will start issuing challans to women found riding two-wheelers without helmet from Wednesday.
The amended Chandigarh Motor Vehicle Rules notified on July 6 exempt only turbaned Sikh women from wearing helmets, unlike the neighbouring Punjab and Haryana, where all Sikh women are exempted. Eve pillion riders come under the ambit of these rules.
While first-time offenders will have to pay up ₹300, the fine will get doubled subsequently.
The traffic police have been conducting numerous campaigns to raise awareness about the new rules. “We laid special emphasis on places with a heavy footfall of women riders, like girls’ colleges,” said Chandigarh senior superintendent of police (SSP, traffic) Shashank Anand.
According to data available with the police, 85% of road fatalities involve two-wheeler riders.
Akali Dal to protest
The Shiromani Akali Dal will be organising a rally on Wednesday to protest the new rules.Hardeep Singh, president of the SAD’s local unit, said: “We will organise a rally from the Sector 34 gurdwara to the governor’s house at 11am. We will ride on two-wheelers without wearing helmets, as the rules are against Sikhism. We will protest every day, if needed, to overturn this rule.”
The Akali Dal has been protesting the new rules since the notification in July. A delegation had even met Punjab governer and Chandigarh administrator VP Singh Badnore, but he refused to intervene.
{{/usCountry}}The Akali Dal has been protesting the new rules since the notification in July. A delegation had even met Punjab governer and Chandigarh administrator VP Singh Badnore, but he refused to intervene.
{{/usCountry}}Even the Akal Takht, the highest Sikh temporal seat, has opposed the notification, stating that “no court or any government authority had the right to define a Sikh”.