HC refuses to stay order on helmet for pillion riders

Kochi: A Division Bench of the High Court Friday declined the plea of state government to stay the direction of single judge making wearing of helmet mandatory for pillion riders in two-wheelers.

Last month, single bench of the Kerala High Court has stayed a state government order issued in 2003 granting exemption to pillion riders of two-wheelers from wearing helmets.

In its interim order last month, the single bench has made helmet mandatory for two-wheeler riders.
Justice V Chidambaresh issued the interim order on a petition filed by one T U Raveendran challenging the 2003 Government Order which had relaxed the helmet rule.
Raveendran had sought the Court's intervention to save the lives of pillion riders who met with accidents while riding on two wheelers.
The Court then observed that pillion riders are prime victims of two-wheeler accidents and made helmets mandatory for them.
In their appeal before the division bench, the state government submitted that there were various practical difficulties implementing the decision especially in the case of women riders.
The Bench consisting Chief Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice A M Shaffique admitted the writ appeal and posted it to November nine for hearing.