Sikh women in Chandigarh will not be required to wear a helmet while driving or riding pillion on a two-wheeler as the Chandigarh Administration today issued a notification making the helmet optional for them.
The notification stated that “it shall be optional for Sikh women to wear the protective headgear while driving or riding pillion on a two-wheeler in Chandigarh”. Besides, exemption has also been given on medical grounds.
The notification came a month after the Centre sent an advisory to the Chandigarh Administration asking it to follow the notification issued by the Delhi Government giving them exemption from sporting the protective headgear.
The Centre issued the advisory after Sikh leaders from all over the region, led by Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and demanded exemption on religious grounds.
Earlier, in July, the Administration had made the helmet mandatory for women two-wheeler riders in Chandigarh and exempted only turbaned Sikh women from wearing a helmet while riding a two-wheeler.
The decision was taken following directions from the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The Administration had taken the decision considering the safety of women, including that of Sikh women who did not wear a turban, particularly in view of fatalities in road accidents.