The Bombay High Court has issued a notice to the Maharashtra government and Bajaj Auto to focuses on much-required pillion rider safety on two-wheelers with specific safety gadgets. The notice is issued against a PIL filed in the court from a 71-YO Mumbai resident, Gyan Prakash. It says no two-wheeler without safety gears such as hand grips and saree guard would be allowed to get registered by the government. However, such an order of fitting two-wheelers with the safety gears like saree guard and hand grips for all the two manufacturers in India had already been released by the Supreme Court in February 2018.
The Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989 (CMVR), under the rule 123 also mandates hand grips and saree guards as a part of the safety guidelines for the pillion riders. It 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."
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Furthermore, the PIL also demands a compliance report from the transport commissioner on the Supreme Court order. The Maharashtra government and Bajaj Auto has been ordered to reply against the PIL within two weeks. The Bombay High Court Bench comprising S M Kemkar and M S Karnik then will hear the petition depending upon their replies.