No helmet, no fuel: Dealers object to ‘ illegal diktat’
PASSING THE BUCK They feel it is for the police personnel and other enforcement agencies to ensure compliance of rules
The transport department’s directive asking the district magistrates to ensure that filling stations refuse to sell fuel to those who don’t use helmet/ seatbelt has not only evoked objection from diesel-petrol dealers but has also raised the legality issue of the otherwise well-intentioned move.
While dealers said the order was impractical and hence cannot be implemented, insiders maintained the order did not enjoy any legal sanction and was unlikely to get acceptance among the commuters as well as dealers.
The transport department on Monday issued directions asking all the district magistrates to hold meetings with diesel-petrol dealers and ask them to see to it that they did not sell fuel to car and two-wheelers users who come to them without bearing seatbelt/helmet.
The order issued by transport commissioner Ravindra Naik quoted the traffic department’s figures that said that as many as 1,200 road accidents involving two-wheelers took place between January and March 2014, killing 594 people and injuring 530 people. “Significantly, deaths could have been avoided had the twowheelers riders been wearing helmets,” said the order.
The order, has however, not gone down well with dealers who feel it was for the police and other enforcement agencies to ensure compliance of rules.
“This is not our job. How can we refuse selling fuel to anyone who does not bear helmet/seatbelt and under what rules,” asked UP Diesel-Petrol Dealers Association president BN Shukla.
He said the enforcement agencies should see to it that people did not reach filling stations without seatbelts and helmets.
“Moreover, it would also pose a secu- rity question, because filling stations staff will be exposing themselves to the risk of being beaten up or even killed by those who get angry on being denied petrol/diesel/CNG merely on the ground that they are not using helmet or seatbelt as the case may be,” Shukla pointed out.
He, however, said dealers were yet to receive orders.
Dealers’ reservations, notwithstanding, the transport department’s orders also do not enjoy a legal backing.
“There is certainly a provision to fine people who are found driving without wearing a seatbelt/helmet but there is no provision anywhere whereby they can be denied diesel, petrol, etc.,” said a senior official.
He said this is why some DMs individually did pass similar orders in the past but failed to ensure their compliance.