Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Though it reserved verdict, Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday voiced support for a directive issued by the Indore district collector, which prohibits the sale of petrol to two-wheeler riders not wearing helmets. The court said that the move is not for anyone's pleasure but is aimed at protecting lives on the road.
The remarks came during the hearing of two public interest litigations (PILs) challenging the collector’s order. A division bench comprising of Justice Vivek Rusia and Justice Vinod Kumar Dwivedi noted the rampant disregard for traffic safety norms, even observing multiple helmetless riders, including children, just outside the court premises.
‘Such people not only pose a danger to themselves while driving but are also dangerous for anyone they collide with,’ the bench observed.
HC may extend rule to its own premises
The High Court indicated that in the future, it may implement a similar rule within its own premises, denying entry to individuals arriving without helmets. While the final verdict on the PILs has been reserved, the tone of the court clearly favoured the collector’s order.
Backing from SC’s Road Safety Committee
The collector’s decision follows directives from the Road Safety Committee formed by the Supreme Court and chaired by Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre. In a recent meeting, Justice Sapre had recommended that all government employees, including police personnel, must wear helmets while riding two-wheelers. He further suggested to extend the rule to school and college students.
Petitioners raise broader safety concerns
Representing the petitioners, advocates Ritesh Inani and Pankaj Wadhwani argued that while enforcing helmet rules is important, road safety also depends on infrastructure.
They pointed out the presence of potholes and accident-prone ‘black spots’ across the city, urging the court to hold authorities accountable for addressing those hazards as well. The HC stated that let the collector’s order remain in force and if need be, the same will be reviewed after a month.
