Giving in to the demand from the Sikh community, Delhi lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung has exempted Sikh women pillion riders from wearing helmets in the Capital. A notification in this regard is likely to be issued within a week. The decision comes after the Sikh community strongly objected to the Transport Department’s move of making helmets mandatory for all women pillion riders.
Top sources told The Pioneer that lieutenant Governor has agreed to exempt Sikh women pillion riders from wearing helmets in the Capital. The Transport Department had on May 2 issued a notification seeking objections from people over its decision to amend the Delhi Motor Vehicles Rules, 1993, for making helmets mandatory for all women riding pillion on two-wheelers following Delhi High Court orders.
Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee had written to lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung requesting him to exempt Sikh women from wearing helmets as it would hurt their religious sentiments. After Sikh community sought exemption for women pillion riders from wearing helmets, some Muslim groups have also demanded the same relief for burqa-clad women riding pillion in the Capital.
While making a case for compulsory helmet rule for all women pillion riders, the Transport Department had cited the risk involved in case of accidents saying that the move was prompted due to increasing number of accidents on city roads and helmets will go a long way in saving lives.
The Transport Department in the communiqué had stated that riders die everyday on city roads and helmets will help save lives. “The move of the department has been prompted by the Central Government as a research on road safety has found women pillion riders perishing in road accidents,” it said. All agencies, including the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Delhi Traffic Police and Delhi Commission for Women has supported the move to make helmets mandatory for women riders including pillion passengers,” said a Transport Department official.