With directions from Home Ministry, Sikh women in Chandigarh will be not wear helmets

Chandigarh, October 11: Under a motor vehicle rule amendment that is now being extended to the union territory, Sikh women in Chandigarh will not have to wear helmets while riding two-wheelers. The decision was taken by the Union Home Ministry which directed the Chandigarh administration to implement an amendment to the Motor Vehicle Act that was carried out by the Delhi government.

 

That amendment had exempted Sikh women from wearing helmets while riding two-wheelers. In 1999, the Delhi government had made wearing helmets option for all women. This rule, however, was later changed in 2014 when only Sikh women were granted that exemption.

The Home Ministry's directive to Chandigarh is in response to Sikh bodies approaching the ministry, seeking an exemption for Sikh women from wearing helmets. A similar exemption on wearing helmets already exists for turbaned Sikh men across India.

The Delhi government’s transport department issued a notification on June 4, 1999, to carry out the amendment in Rule 115 of Delhi Motor Vehicle Act 1993, making it optional for women “whether riding on pillion or driving motorcycle to wear a protective headgear”.

The rule was further amended through another notification dated August 28, 2014, whereby the word “women” was replaced by “Sikh women”.