Karnataka To Ban Pillion Riders On Bikes With Engines Less Than 100cc

In a move that would affect lakhs of commuters in the state, the Karnataka Department of Transport has issued a circular that prohibits pillion riding on two-wheelers with an engine capacity below 100cc.

The circular – issued to heads of Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) – says that bikes lesser than 100cc with pillion seats will no longer be registered while those already with them would not permit travel of pillion riders. The circular says that doing so would violate the Central motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) of 1989.

The department, however is seeking to change the rules to ban pillion riders on bikes lesser than 50cc as opposed to the current 100cc, reports The Hindu.

The order comes in the background of a case in the High Court of Karnataka where Hemanth, a pillion rider suffered serious injuries after an accident in Mysuru in 2009. Both Hemanth and the rider were minors at the time of the accident. During the case, the court observed violations of various rules and asked the department to strictly enforce rules.