In a relief to both users and manufacturers of two-wheelers, the Karnataka High Court on Friday stayed government’s order dated October 23 banning registration of two-wheelers with engine capacity below 100 cc having pillion seats.
The High Court also stayed operation of the Rule 143(3) of the Karnataka Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, which says that two-wheelers below 100 cc cannot have pillion seat.
Justice B.V. Nagarathna passed the interim order on the petitions filed by Hero MotoCorp Ltd. and TVS Motor Corporation Ltd.
Though the rule banning pillion seats in two-wheelers below 100 cc existed since 1989 only in Karnataka state, it was not enforced and lakhs of two wheelers below 100 cc having pillion seats were certified and registered for their use on road.
The government issued the notification based on a 2015 judgement of the High Court in a motor vehicle accident case, in which the court had asked the government to enforce the rule effectively.
