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.