Calcutta HC Cuts EC Bike Ban To 12 Hours
The Calcutta High Court has modified the Election Commission’s 48-hour restriction on two-wheeler movement for the second phase of Assembly elections, reducing the pillion-riding ban to 12 hours on polling day.
Calcutta High Court Modifies EC Bike Ban
The court set aside the Election Commission’s blanket 48-hour restriction on motorcycle riding and said such a broad order could not be justified in the name of free and fair elections.
Justice Krishna Rao ruled that pillion riding would remain restricted only from 6 am to 6 pm on polling day. The order applies to the second phase of Assembly elections scheduled for April 29.
Pillion Riding Restricted On Poll Day
The court clarified that pillion riding will be allowed only in specific cases, including voting-related travel by family members, school travel for children, medical emergencies and family functions.
The order also exempted service providers such as Ola, Uber, Zomato, Swiggy and similar delivery platforms. Office-going riders carrying proper identity cards were also allowed exemption from the restriction.
Motorcycle Rallies Ban Remains In Place
While reducing the restriction on regular two-wheeler movement, the High Court did not interfere with the 48-hour ban on motorcycle rallies.
The court observed that restrictions on motorcycle rallies before polling could be justified to prevent violence. However, it said banning ordinary motorcycle riding for 48 hours was not reasonable when security forces and local police had already been deployed for election duty.
The ruling gives partial relief to commuters while allowing the Election Commission to retain curbs aimed at preventing poll-related mobilisation and violence.
