Chandigarh- Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has urged Union Government to take Sikh religious bodies along before deciding on making helmet compulsory for Sikh women while riding/Pillion riding two wheelers in the country.
In a letter written to Union Minister of Law and Justice Mr. Arjun Ram Meghwal, DSGMC President Mr. Harmeet Singh Kalka and General Secretary Mr. Jagdip Singh Kahlon said that a recent news appeared in the daily newspapers that High Court of Punjab and Haryana has expressed dissatisfaction over the exemption being granted to Sikh women from wearing safety headgear (helmet) while riding/pillion two wheeler in UT of Chandigarh.
They reminded the Union Minister that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in October 2018, had advised the administration to exempt Sikh women from wearing helmet while riding a two-wheeler or riding pillion in Chandigarh.
They also informed him that Sikh tenets forbade wearing of helmet/cap by Sikh women. They urged him that before arriving at any decision by the administration against the Sikh tenets that can hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikhs, apex religious bodies of Sikhs may please be consulted.
They expressed hope that he will understand the gravity of the situation and emotions related to religious affairs of the Sikh community and will make a decision only after taking Sikh religious bodies along on the issue.