Turban or no turban, Sikh women in Chandigarh are likely to be allowed to ride two-wheelers in this capital city of Punjab without a helmet. The Union government of India has asked the Union Territory government to enact a legislation as has been done by Punjab, amending the Motor Vehicles Act.

Though this comes with a huge risk to life, given the traffic conditions and the ever-increasing accidents within Chandigarh, the Union government has forwarded its request to the government of the Union Territory to exempt Sikh women from wearing the helmet.

This has come about pursuant to a vigorous campaign by Sikh organisations urging the union territory and the central government to allow riding and pillion-riding to Sikh women without wearing the turban. The leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal Badal, Sukhbir Singh Badal had met the Indian Union Home Minister and sought exemption.

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The Home Ministry’s directive to Chandigarh is in response to Sikh bodies approaching the ministry, seeking an exemption for Sikh women from wearing helmets.

New Delhi, 12 October 2018, WSN News Desk