On Monday, the Madras High Court questioned the State for a response to a lawyer’s petition to make rules and regulations against bike riders who drive their bikes recklessly and dangerously in public places and to stop people from using modified or transformed bikes without permission from the Regional Transport Officer (RTO) in the state of Tamil Nadu.
The two judges bench, Acting Chief Justice T Raja and Justice D Krishnakumar, asked for a Status Report and told the State to respond in four weeks.
The petitioner, M. Vignesh, a lawyer by profession, claimed in his affidavit that over the previous five years, the number of cases involving reckless and negligent driving had significantly increased in the State of Tamil Nadu. The petitioner claims that one cause for the same is the rise in racing and reckless driving in the State, where bike riders were performing risky stunts on public highways.
The petitioner claimed that instead of using dedicated racing tracks designated for ethical racing, the Moto-Vloggers were engaging in reckless driving and racing on state and federal roadways. These vloggers then shared the videos on social media in exchange for views, likes, and other financial rewards, which inspired kids to participate in this practice. Accidents resulting from this involved pedestrians and other drivers as well.
Additionally, the petitioner claimed that these motor vloggers were using customised bikes without the necessary authorization from the RTO. This structural change to the bike would have an adverse effect on its technical performance and increase the risk of accidents. Additionally, these bikers were performing risky stunts without any prior notice while disobeying Supreme Court rules regarding bike modifications.
The petitioner demanded harsh action because there were currently far less moto vloggers, making it easier to get rid of them. Despite complaints being made to the State, nothing had been done up to this point. The petitioner then went to court.
Case Title: M Vignesh v. The Chief Secretary and others
Case No: WP No. 31735 of 2022
Consel for Petitioner: Advocate Mohan Krishnan
Written By: Lakshman Singh, B.B.A LL.B (Hons.), Shri Ramswaroop Memorial University, Lucknow
