No helmet-less woman rider challaned in Haryana in two years

HIGH COURT SUMMONS INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE SANJAY KUMAR AND DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL RAKESH KUMAR

CHANDIGARH : The Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday summoned two senior officials of the Haryana Police over a report that in the past two years no woman has been challaned for driving without helmet in nine districts of the state.

The officers who have been summoned are inspector general of police (IGP) Sanjay Kumar and deputy inspector general (DIG) Rakesh Kumar.

Haryana allows only Sikh women and turbaned Sikhs to ride a two-wheeler without a helmet. But there are no norms to identify the Sikh women.

The officers were summoned after it was brought to the knowledge of the court that the report was submitted by Sanjay Kumar as IGP, traffic and highways, on April 25. The list included Panchkula as well. “We have prepared CDS of two districts of Panchkula and Kaithal — in both the places while police are a mere spectator people are riding two-wheelers without helmets without any fear,” a counsel, who is assisting court in the matter, said.

Initially, the court was to summon Sanjay Kumar only. However, as the state’s counsel informed that he had been transferred and Rakesh Kumar had joined in his place, the court summoned both the officers.

The high court observed that the situation was bad in Haryana and people can be seen triple riding on motor bikes without helmets. The state’s counsel submitted that police are taking steps and sought to file a report on action taken by police. However, the court termed the report a “false one” and summoned the two officials on May 30.

Meanwhile, the Chandigarh administration informed the court that a total of 13 suggestions/objections had been received by it for the proposal mooted for making helmet mandatory for women riding twowheelers, with an exception of turbaned women.