GANDHINAGAR, DEC 18
The Supreme Court Road Safety Committee has sought an explanation from the state government for relaxing helmet rule as optional in violation of the amended Motor Vehicles Act.
This bouncer has come in the form of a letter from the Road Safety Committee addressed to the Chief Secretary. Sources from the Secretariat said that the committee has asked the state government to explain and convince it that why it was necessary to give any relaxation from wearing a helmet in the city.
Sources also said that the committee has asked the state government to revoke its relaxation decision and make helmet mandatory again at the earliest. After that, the government should review it every three months.
The state government will have to reply within 15 days, but before that, the big question before the state government is how will it take U-turn on its popular decision.
When the government decided to relax the helmet decision, the spokesman said that within urban areas (municipal corporations, nagar palika, municipality) pillion riders do not need to wear helmets, but if one is driving two-wheeler on district, state or national highway for them helmet is a must.
In 2015, the Supreme Court while passing an order on road accidents and safety issue had decided to monitor that the states as well as the central government is effectively implementing road safety rules. It is then for the first time SC decided to constitute a road safety committee headed by the Supreme Court judge, two members from the transport ministry and scientist from Central Road Research Institute.
Then court had decided to monitor whether the state and the central government is seriously following four dimensional approach, enforcement, engineering, education and emergency care.
