The Chhatisgarh Government has made it mandatory for the employees of all its departments to wear helmet while riding two-wheelers. It may be recalled that Chief Minister Raman Singh along with his senior officials and other staff went to several parts of Raipur city riding a two-wheeler while wearing a helmet on June 20 this year to spread awareness among the people to wear helmet.
Additional Chief Secretary, Home and Transport Department NK Aswal has issued the circular on helmets being made mandatory for all the Government employees riding two-wheelers to all the departments, officials informed.In the circular, Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and Secretaries of the departments concerned have been directed to issue directives to all the employees of their subordinate offices about wearing helmet compulsorily while riding two-wheelers.
The Government has introduced the mandate of wearing helmet while riding, for the safety of riders and pillion riders of two-wheeler vehicles. Only the members of Sikh community, women and children of age below 12 years have been exempted from the mandate of wearing helmets.The Additional Chief Secretary has issued the circular to all the District Collectors, Superintendents of Police, Regional Transport Officers, Additional Regional Transport Officers and District Transport Officers.
In the circular issued on June 2014, the officials have been directed that Section 129 of Motor Vehicles Act 1988 includes a provision, as per which wearing helmet while riding or pillion riding two-wheeler vehicles is compulsory.
However, Sikhs wearing turban while riding/pillion riding two-wheeler vehicles in public places have been exempted from the mandate. likewise, the Government has exempted women and children of age below 12 years from compulsion of wearing helmet while pillion riding, under Rule 213 of Chhattisgarh Motor Vehicle Act 1994.
The Additional Chief Secretary has further stated that initially for one week checking officers should encourage and motivate people to wear helmet while riding and pillion riding two-wheeler vehicles. Print and electronic media should also be deployed for creating awareness among public, he said.
Thereafter, the officials concerned should start taking action as per the rules against the persons, who do not wear helmet while riding or pillion riding two-wheelers.The officials concerned have been directed to comply with the aforementioned instructions, in the form of a campaign, so as to control deaths due to road accidents.