Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Feb 1: Guidelines issued four years back by the Supreme Court asking showroom dealers to sell motorcycles along with helmets having an ISI mark to ensure the safety of bikers are being flouted here with impunity.
In July 2010, the Supreme Court had issued guidelines that two-wheeler makers should sell a helmet along with bikes and scooters.
The apex court had earlier dismissed a plea by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) against such a step.
A bench comprising Justice GS Singhvi and Justice AK Ganguly dismissed the petition filed by SIAM challenging an earlier order of the Delhi High Court.
The apex court said the manufacturers would have to give BSI certified helmets as ‘original equipment’.
However, Santosh, a sales manager at a motorcycle showroom in Sahid Nagar, said as helmets with ISI mark are expensive and cost upwards of `1,200, people prefer to buy local helmets which fall in the range of `150 to 400 but compromise on safety. Another employee of a motorcycle showroom in Khandagiri said they can’t force people to buy a helmet with a new bike and said they could give helmets for free if the government provided them subsidy.
A High Court lawyer said a PIL can be filed in this regard to know why dealers were not implementing the SC order. Subash Mohapatra said a PIL can be filed in this regard in the High Court.
