New Delhi: Two-wheeler makers have to sell helmets along with their vehicles, the Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday and dismissed a plea by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).
A bench comprising Justice G S Singhvi and Justice A K Ganguly dismissed the petition of the SIAM challenging an earlier order of the Delhi High Court.
The High Court had on July 30, 2009 ruled that's mandatory for two-wheeler makers to sell helmets along with their vehicles, which would not be registered if the order was not followed.
The Supreme Court said manufacturers would have to sell helmets certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BSI) as "original equipment". SIAM contended that the High Court order would restrict the people's choice to buy their own helmet. Moreover, it would also force a person to buy a helmet again when he buys a new two-wheeler.
The Supreme Court was not convinced with the argument. "Let there be more helmets. When you are buying a second scooter of Rs 40,000, then you can buy a helmet also, which is of Rs 300 only," it said.
SIAM had contended that the High Court was curtailing the choice of customers, who would be forced to buy helmets from dealers of automobile companies and not from the open market.
The association further contended that the High Court order was against the Motor Vehicles Act, which says "helmet for a person" only and not "helmet for a vehicle".
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