Chennai: The Madras high court has directed the Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) to be present in the court on June 6 in connection with a case relating to implementation of the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, which made it compulsory wearing of helmets by riders and pillion riders of two-wheelers.
A division bench comprising Justices S. Manikumar and Subramonium Prasad also directed the additional government pleader to get the details from the police/medical department with regard to the number of accidents with head injuries.
The bench said, "Despite the assurance given by the state, in the earlier round of litigation, in the matter of wearing helmets, pillion riders are not wearing helmets. However, Additional government pleader contended that cases are being registered against those riders, who allow pillion riders without wearing helmets and fine amount is collected. Wearing helmets is not being strictly enforced and in the above said circumstances, we deem it fit to direct the Joint Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner (Traffic) to be present by June 6".
The bench posted to June 6, further hearing of a Public Interest Litigation filed by K. K. Rajendran, which sought a direction to the authorities to implement the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act, which made it compulsory wearing of helmets by riders and pillion riders of two wheelers.
On earlier occasions, taking judicial note of the increased number of deaths caused in the accidents involving the riders of two wheelers and pillion riders, more particularly, deaths occurred due to the head injuries, the bench had said this could be prevented by taking a simple precaution of wearing helmet. The people have to be made aware of the law which makes it mandatory for riders and pillion riders to wear helmets. People have to be made aware of the fact that wearing helmet was a safety measure as per the Motor Vehicle Rules, the bench had added.
Noting that between 2005 and 2014, 41,300 persons died due to head injuries and 62,413 people suffered head injuries, the bench had directed the authorities to file details about the further progress which will be made by the state government to sensitize the people of the benefits and the law regarding wearing of helmet by the riders and pillion riders also and the consequence of breach of mandate.
