Fact Check: Video claiming helmet not mandatory is FALSE
The court rejected the helmet inspection that is now being done in all states. The use of helmets is not mandatory for drivers in municipal corporations
A video about the use of helmet within 15 km radius of any city is in circulation on social media. Along with the video, posts in Telugu are also being shared. The claim in Telugu goes "*బ్రేకింగ్ న్యూస్*
*నగర పరిధి లో హెల్మెట్ లేకుండా ప్రయాణించ వచ్చును ***"
సాగర్ కుమార్ జైన్ పిటిషన్ పరిశీలించిన కోర్టు,
ఇప్పుడు అన్ని రాష్ట్రాల్లో జరుగుతున్న హెల్మెట్ తనిఖీని కోర్టు తిరస్కరించింది. మునిసిపల్ కార్పొరేషన్ పరిధిలో డ్రైవర్కు హెల్మెట్ వాడకం తప్పనిసరి కాదు. మీ రక్షణ మీ ఇష్టం. రాష్ట్ర రహదారి లేదా జిల్లా రహదారి హోదా పొందిన రహదారిపై హెల్మెట్ ధరించడం అయితే తప్పనిసరి. ఇక మీదట ఎవరైనా ట్రాఫిక్ లేదా ఇతర పోలీసులు ' మీరు హెల్మెట్ ఎందుకు ధరించలేదు అని మిమ్మల్ని, అడిగితే.. నేను. మునిసిపల్ కార్పొరేషన్, పంచాయతీ సమితి, నగర పరిధిలోనే ఉన్నానని మీరు వారికి చెప్పవచ్చును.... ఈ విషయం అందరికీ తెలిస్తే సంతోషంగా ఉంటుంది. నగరం వెలుపల 15 కిలోమీటర్ల లోపు హెల్మెట్ వాడకున్నా మిమ్మల్ని అడగడానికి లేదు. ఈ సందేశాన్ని సాధ్యమైనంత వరకు భాగస్వామ్యం చేయండి, తద్వారా ప్రజలందరికీ కూడా తెలియచేయండి... !!
దేవేంద్ర ప్రతాప్ సింగ్ చౌహాన్ న్యాయవాది
రాష్ట్ర అధ్యక్షుడు
ఉమ్మడి న్యాయవాది సమాఖ్య
9452680100
8299683093
*పవర్ ఆఫ్ ఆర్టీఐ*"
When translated it claims
"**Can ride without helmet in city limits ***
On considering Sagar Kumar Jain's petition,
The court rejected the helmet inspection that is now being done in all states. The use of helmets is not mandatory for drivers in municipal corporations. Your protection is up to you. Wearing a helmet is mandatory on roads designated as state highways or district highways. Now, if any traffic or other policemen ask you why you are not wearing a helmet… You can tell them that you are under the Municipal Corporation, Panchayat Samiti, City limits.... Everyone will be happy to know this. You will not be asked to wear a helmet within 15 km of the city. Share this message as much as possible so that all people would know too... !!
Devendra Pratap Singh Chauhan, lawyer
State President
Joint Bar Association
9452680100
8299683093
*Power of RTI*"
The video also claims that the 15-km limit for wearing a helmet is a Supreme Court ruling.
Fact check:
The claim that helmets need not be used within 15 km radius of any city is FALSE. No such directive was given by any High Court or the Supreme court in India.
Firstly, when we searched for Devendra Pratap Chauhan, lawyer, we found a few videos of the advocate himself explaining that the claim is FALSE.
We also found a tweet by PIB fact check in 2020 stating that the claim is FALSE. The tweet stated that the viral message on WhatsApp, claiming that it is no longer mandatory for drivers to wear helmets within a radius of 15 km in the city is fake. Drivers are still required to wear a helmet.
The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019, section 129 clearly states that every person, above four years of age, driving or riding or being carried on a motorcycle of any class or description shall, while in a public place, wear protective headgear conforming to such standards as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
https://egazette.nic.in/
Several articles published in May 2022 state that a penalty of Rs 2,000 would be imposed on motorists riding two-wheelers if they do not wear helmets properly.
According to abplive.com, in a strict directive for those riding two-wheelers, the government has updated the 1998 Motor Vehicles Act to add an instant fine of up to Rs 2,000 for those found not wearing helmets properly.
As per reports, a two-wheeler rider wearing a helmet can be fined even if found not adhering to the requisite norms such as a tied buckle and/or Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification. In case of road accidents, two-wheeler riders are especially susceptible to head injury or other such hazardous consequences. In such a case, helmet-wearing can save people's lives.
Hence, the claim that use of helmet is not mandatory within 15 km radius in a city is FALSE. There is no such Act nor did any court give consent for it.
Wearing a helmet is mandatory for riders and others pillion riding on two-wheelers in the country.