The Lahore High Court (LHC) has recently intervened to suspend the enforcement of a controversial directive known as ‘No helmet, no petrol’. This directive was initially issued by the deputy commissioner of Lahore, who sought to impose restrictions on petrol stations, preventing them from providing fuel to motorcyclists not wearing helmets. The directive also warned petrol stations of potential fines for non-compliance.
However, the Lahore High Court has now stepped in to halt the implementation of this directive. The court expressed serious concerns over the legality and fairness of such a rule, stating that there is no existing law that explicitly forbids the sale of petrol to motorcyclists without helmets. The court emphasized the importance of protecting the fundamental rights of citizens and ensuring that these rights are upheld in a fair and impartial manner.
The court’s decision to invalidate the deputy commissioner’s notification was seen as a significant move towards safeguarding the rights of motorcyclists. The court referred to the directive as being contrary to the law and called for responses from the deputy commissioner, the Inspector General of Punjab, and the Chief Capital City Police Officer of Lahore.
In addition to this, the Lahore High Court also sent a formal notification to the federal government and other relevant stakeholders, inviting their input on this contentious issue. The court’s verdict has thus opened up a dialogue on the balance between safety regulations and individual rights, highlighting the need for clear and fair laws in this regard.
This development underscores the role of the judiciary in checking administrative actions and ensuring that they conform to the principles of justice and legality. It also raises questions about the appropriate measures to promote road safety and the extent to which authorities can go into enforcing such measures.
