Exempting women from wearing helmet - Delhi government

The Delhi government on Wednesday informed the Delhi high court that it has framed rules exempting women from wearing helmet only in compliance with the central law - the Motor Vehicles Act.

Filing an affidavit in response to a PIL challenging the exemption to women, the state transport department told a bench of acting Chief Justice A K Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw that the central law had made it optional for a woman riding pillion to wear a helmet. The bench then directed the petitioner to go through the government's affidavit and file his objections by April 25.

The court had issued the notice to the Delhi government in August last year admitting the PIL that challenged the related provision in the Delhi Motor Vehicles Rules. Ulhas P R, a social filmmaker, had challenged the exemption, arguing there should be a uniform law for all people irrespective of their caste, creed, gender and religion.

According to the Motor Vehicle Act and rules, Sikhs wearing turban and women are exempted from wearing helmets while riding motor-cycles and scooters.