MP HC issues notices on 'no helmet, no petrol' directive

The Madhya Pradesh High Court today sought a reply from the state government on its 'no helmet, no petrol to two-wheelers' directive given to petrol pumps.
Notices seeking the government's reply on the issue was given by a division bench of Justice P K Jaiswal and Justice Alok Varma responding to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a lawyer, Saurabh Mishra.
The court directed the Principal Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies Department and the Indore Collector to file their replies on the issue by April 6.
Mishra's PIL said that the district administration directed petrol pumps not to give petrol to two-wheeler riders not wearing helmets.

He contended that no provision in the Motors Vehicles Act makes it compulsory for riders to wear helmets in order to be allowed to buy fuel for their two-wheelers.
He said that the directive appeared to be "arbitrariness" of the district administration.

Mishra said that the directive also violated the provision of Essential Services Act.
Meanwhile, after the directive was challenged in the high court, the district administration put in abeyance its 'No helmet, no petrol' order until April 6 and Additional Collector Dilip Kumar also confirmed the same.
He said that the administration would run a campaign to encourage two-wheeler riders to wear helmets.