Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGPC) president Manjit Singh GK has opposed the Delhi Government’s Transport Department decision making helmets mandatory for women pillion riders.
In a letter to lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung, Manjit Singh GK has appealed to exempt Sikh women from wearing helmet. “The Delhi Government had earlier made an amendment in the 115 (2) rule of the Delhi Motor Vehicle Act, exempted Sikh women from wearing helmet in 1993. The elected representatives of Delhi Assembly and Parliament should take decision on this issue,” said GK, adding that Sikh community women are angry over the Government decision on this issue. He further stated that this is a sensitive issue and lieutenant-Governor should reconsider his decision.
Wearing a helmet is optional in a few States in India, like Haryana and Punjab, where the Sikh community is in majority. Sikh women are not allowed to wear anything on their head apart from a turban, scarf or under-turban, hence, making it optional for women to decide whether they want to wear a helmet or not.
Previous Congress Government in Delhi had earlier opposed moves to force women pillion passengers to wear crash helmets because it is a “sensitive issue” and will be unpopular with women who fear it will ruin their hair. The Sahib Singh Verma Government had made it optional in 1993. Under Motor Vehicles Act all riders and passengers must wear crash helmets but the Delhi Government allowed a religious exemption initially for Sikh men and women but later extended it to all women. Supporters of tougher rules said there had been a surge of deaths among women in road accidents in recent years, many of them pillion scooter and bike passengers.
Expressing its concern over number of accidents taking place on city’s roads, the Transport Department in the communiqué has cited reasons that two 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.