Riding motorcycle in K’taka with child above nine months? You might have to abide new rule soon
HC issues notice to state over safety harness for children on motorcycles; All you need to know
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has issued a notice to the State government in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking urgent measures to ensure the adequate availability of child safety helmets and harnesses for children aged nine months and above.
The division bench, consisting of Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice Krishna S Dixit, issued the notice based on a petition filed by Dr. Archana Bhat K. The PIL urges the authorities to strictly implement Rule 138(7) of the Central Motor Vehicle (Second Amendment) Rules 2022 and also implement Sections 129, 137, and 194 of the Motor Vehicles Act comprehensively.
The newly added Rule 138(7) of the Central Motor Vehicle (Second Amendment) Rules 2022 specifies safety measures for motorcycles carrying children aged between nine months and four years. It mandates the use of safety harnesses to secure the child to the driver of the motorcycle. The safety harness, as described, is a vest with adjustable straps forming shoulder loops worn by the driver and crossing over the vest to secure the child, meeting specified requirements.
ALSO READ: Are we going back to 17th century, asks anguished HC on case of woman paraded naked
Explanation - Safety harness is a vest to be worn by the child, which shall be adjustable, with a pair of straps attached to the vest and forming shoulder loops to be worn by the driver. This way, the upper torso of the child is securely attached to the driver. A feature by which this is achieved is by attaching the straps to the back of the vest and crossing the straps over the vest so that two large crossing-over loops are formed that pass between the legs of the passenger and child sits on the seat of the two-wheeler. The protective gear including Safety harness shall meet the following requirements till such time the specifications are prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 (11 of 2016).
Specifications of Safety harness:
(a) Light weight, adjustable, waterproof and durable
(b) Heavy nylon/ multi-filament nylon material with high density foam with sufficient cushioning
(c) Shall be designed to hold weight upto 30 kg.
The court has directed the respondents to submit their response within six weeks and scheduled further hearings after the vacation period.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
