Suspension of licence for speeding upheld

Kochi: Kerala high court on Thursday accepted transport commissioner Rishiraj Singh’s directive to the motor vehicle inspectors to suspend the driving licences of speeding bikers.

A division bench comprising chief justice Manjula Chellur and justice A.M. Shaffique passed the order.

The court was considering a plea filed by Dileep Kumar of Kochi seeking a directive not to cancel the licence of the riders for not wearing helmets.

The court recorded the submissions made by Rishiraj Singh that he had not given any oral direction for cancelling the driving licence of those not wearing helmet.

He had only issued directions to his subordinate officers to suspend the licences of motorcycle riders who do not wear protective headgear. The licence can be suspended as per the Motor Vehicles Act.

Speeding of motorcycles without using proper helmet is dangerous and it increase the chances of fatality. In such cases, the offenders deserve severe punishment so as to maintain the discipline on roads and thereby reduce accidents.

He made it clear that instructions were issued to reduce the road accidents in Kerala and maintain driving discipline on our roads.