PIL seeks safety gears for pillion riders
The relevant rule 123 provides for mandatory safety measures for pillion riders in the two wheelers before their roll out from factories
Mumbai: The Bombay high court has directed the government of Maharashtra and two-wheeler manufacturer Bajaj Auto to file a reply on a public interest litigation seeking strict implementation of a Supreme Court order to all two-wheeler manufacturers to equip their vehicles with safety gears for pillion riders.
The division bench of Justice S.M. Kemkar and Justice M.S. Karnik issued this direction while hearing petition filed by 71-year-old Gyan Prakash seeking court's directions to all two-wheeler manufacturers to install proper safety accessories like saree guards and hand grips for pillion riders.
According to the petitioner the rules says, “No motorcycle, which has provision for pillion rider, shall be built without provision for a permanent hand grip on the side or behind the driver's seat, a foot rest and a protective device covering not less than half of the rear wheel so as to prevent the clothes of the person sitting on the pillion from being entangled in the wheel.”
The relevant rule 123 provides for mandatory safety measures for pillion riders in the two wheelers before their roll out from factories. The court has directed the respondents to file reply withi n twoweeks.