Sikh women in Chandigarh will be exempted from wearing helmets while riding two-wheelers, after the union Home Ministry issued an advisory to the Chandigarh administration to make an exception for them.
“The Home Ministry on Thursday instructed Chandigarh administration to exempt Sikh women from wearing helmets while driving two-wheelers.”
The decision came after Sikh bodies, led by Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal, made a representation to Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
The Home Ministry has advised the Chandigarh administration to follow the similar notification issued by the Delhi government giving an exemption to Sikh women from wearing protective headgear while driving two-wheelers in the Union Territory.
In 1999, the Delhi government’s transport department issued a notification to carry out the amendment in Rule 115 of Delhi Motor Vehicle Act 1993, making it optional for women “whether riding on pillion or driving motorcycle to wear a protective headgear”.
However, this rule was later changed in 2014 when only Sikh women were granted that exemption.
