Helmet to be mandatory for women in Chandigarh, including Sikh women
Helmet to be mandatory for women in Chandigarh, including Sikh women The UT Administration on Tuesday initiated the process to make the helmet compulsory for all women, including Sikhs, driving two-wheelers or riding pillion in Chandigarh. Only Sikh women wearing a turban will be exempted. The development assumes significance as the Punjab and Haryana High Court had taken suo motu notice of the issue of safety of women, including Sikhs and exemption given to them from wearing headgear under the Motor Vehicle Rules. The Chandigarh Administration, while considering the aspect of safety of women on Tuesday issued a draft notification for amending the existing rules. According to the draft notification, the words “a Sikh woman wearing a turban” instead of the words “or a woman” are proposed to be substituted in Rule 193 of the Chandigarh Motor Vehicle Rules, 1990. This will make the headgear mandatory for all women drivers and pillion riders (except Sikhs wearing a turban) on any two-wheeler in the city. The UT Administration has invited objections and suggestions from city residents, likely to be affected by this amendment, within 30 days. “After 30 days, we will go through the objections and suggestions received and issue a formal notification to make the helmet compulsory for all women drivers and pillion riders (except Sikhs wearing a turban) on any two-wheeler in the city,” a top UT functionary told The Tribune here on Tuesday. He said, “Since the safety of women on roads is our priority, the Chandigarh Administration proposes to make changes to the Chandigarh Motor Vehicle Rules, 1990”. -PTC News
