Bengaluru: In a significant development, the High Court has ruled that two-wheeler riders   who   lose lives in accidents or suffer disability, if found to have used  helmets without ISI marks, will not be eligible for insurance amount.

 The single  judge bench of the High Court comprising Justice L Narayana Swamy gave the above ruling after hearing the   appeal  filed by Oriental Insurance Company  challenging the  lower court order directing to pay compensation of Rs 2.5 lakhs  to motor cyclists who were critically injured in a collision between a bus and their bike.

"Two-wheeler riders including scooterists and bike riders should mandatorily wear helmets while  travelling in any part of the state  As per the  Motor Vehicles Act Section 230, they will have to wear helmets that are protective. In case they are injured in an accident  while not wearing an ISI mark helmet then they will not only be ineligible for insurance amount, but will also have to face legal action, the High Court said in its judgement.

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Kochi (PTI): The Kerala High Court on Saturday gave interim protection from arrest to expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil in a case of rape and forced abortion against him.

Justice K Babu said that it will hear Mamkootathil's anticipatory bail plea on December 15 and till then he should not be arrested.

"Petitioner shall not be arrested during the pendency. Post on December 15, 2025," the court said.

Advocate S Rajeev, appearing for the expelled Congress MLA confirmed the order.

However, Mamkootathil is accused in a second case of sexual assault.

A sessions court in Thiruvananthapuram had on Thursday rejected his plea for anticipatory bail in the first case of rape and forced abortion registered against him last week.

A second rape case was lodged against him on Wednesday based on the complaint of a second woman, a resident of Bengaluru.

Mamkootathil, who has been absconding since the registration of the first rape case against him, has claimed in his plea in the High Court that he was innocent and his custodial interrogation was not required.

He has also contended that the relationship between him and the first complainant was consensual and when it became strained, a complaint was lodged against him.

The MLA has further claimed that the woman was married, but separated from her husband, and in order to "save her own skin" she disowned their relationship.

In his plea, Mamkootathil has said that he was prepared to explain each and every circumstance of the offences alleged against him and will also cooperate with the probe if he would get an opportunity to appear before the investigating officer without any fear of arrest.

He has also alleged that there is an attempt by the investigation agency to "mislead the facts" and he has got ample documents to establish the same.