UT Admn places draft notification before HC

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 25

The UT Administration placed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court a draft notification on making helmet mandatory for women riders, except those wearing a turban, on Wednesday.

As the suo motu or “court on its own motion” case on traffic regulation and road safety came up for the resumed hearing this afternoon, the UT Administration also placed before the Bench a list of traffic offences, with driving without helmet occupying the top slot.

The draft notification stated: “The Chandigarh Administration has considered the aspect of women safety, including Sikh women not wearing the turban, in view of the fatalities occurring in road accidents.”

The notification said safety of women on roads being a priority for the government, the Chandigarh Administration proposed to make changes to the Chandigarh Motor Vehicle Rules, 1990. It added “the words ‘Sikh women wearing a turban’ instead of words ‘or a woman’ were proposed to be substituted.”

The Bench was also told that the proposed amendment in the rules was being published for inviting objection and suggestions from all persons in Chandigarh likely to be affected. For the purpose, 30 days from the publication of the draft modification had been provided

Taking up the matter, the Bench of Justice Ajay Kumar Mittal and Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal said it was in favour of cancelling driving licences of those indulging repeatedly in drunken driving. Referring to the rights of pedestrians, the Bench asserted that people were required to be educated in this regard. The Bench also questioned the police on the status of challans for violating the rules related to zebra crossings.

The Bench added traffic management was attaining greater importance, with more and more vehicles hitting the road.

Haryana has filed two affidavits on the traffic challan and the installation of CCTV cameras. Another affidavit was filed by the Punjab government. The Bench directed the states to file a better affidavit. The Bench also asked the respondents to generate awareness after it was told about the dissemination of information regarding traffic violations and challans through Facebook, twitter and WhatsApp. The case will now come up for further hearing on May 27.

13,364 challans issued

The HC was told that no less than 13,364 challans were issued for riding without helmets, while 19,311 fell in the category of miscellaneous challans till April 15. The total number of violations came out to be 67,153, while 50,311 offenders were challaned.