SAD-BJP urges UT Administrator to withdraw notification helmet mandatory for Sikh women
SAD-BJP urges UT Administrator to withdraw notification helmet mandatory for Sikh women The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) urged Union Territory Administrator VP Singh Badnore to withdraw the notification making it mandatory for Sikh women to wear helmets while driving two wheelers, here on Thursday. A SAD-BJP delegation led by S Sukhbir Singh Badal and Parveen Bansal today apprised the UT Administrator that Sikh women were exempted from wearing helmets by even the Supreme Court which had adjudicated on this issue in a civil appeal filed by the Chandigarh Administration in 2004. The SAD president pointed out that the apex court held the view that Clause three of the Motor Vehicles (Protective Headgears) Rules, 1980 exempted Sikh women from wearing helmets. It said as per Sikh rehat maryada it is not mandatory for Sikh women to wear a turban and that most women covered their heads with a ‘dupatta’. The delegation said this action had hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community and the decision of the UT Administration to change the definition of Sikh women had been condemned by all Sikh religious bodies including the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takth Sahib, the highest temporal seat of the Sikh community. SAD President Sukhbir Badal urged the UT Administrator to intervene and direct the Chandigarh administration to withdraw the controversial notification making it mandatory for Sikh women to wear helmets while driving two wheelers immediately. -PTC News
