The Supreme Court issued a decision yesterday to lift the “no helmet no petrol” ban imposed by Lahore High Court. The ban meant that the motorcyclists not wearing helmets would not be sold fuel at any petrol station within Lahore. The petrol pumps that sell fuel to such motorcyclists would be fined.
Various reports suggest that a three-member bench at the Supreme Court decided to suspend the “no helmet no petrol” ban, based on the belief that it is a needless and unjust denial of the basic rights of a normal citizen. The court made it clear that there is no such law in existence that denies a bike rider without a helmet the right to purchase fuel.
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The court directed the Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) to focus on making sure on his end that the bike riders, as well as passengers, wear helmets while on the roads. The court further instructed the CTO to take strict action against those that do not comply with the safety measures.
The LHC enacted the “no helmet no petrol” ban in the region for the motorcyclists to start wearing helmets on the road as a necessity. The petrol pumps were bound by the authorities to comply with the ban, and the authorities and heavily fine the non-complying petrol pumps.
The ruling did have an impact, as a fair number of motorcyclists started wearing helmets thereafter. However, now with the ban lifted, whether or not the situation would get worse, remains to be seen.
