The Karnataka High Court recently expressed concern that there is no legal provision to specifically tackle the menace of wheelies or 'wheeling'- the practice of driving a two-wheeled vehicle on its hind wheel alone. .Justice V Srishananda observed that those engaging in such acts can, at present, be booked only for negligent or reckless driving, which is bailable in nature. This is not sufficient to effectively deter wheelies, he noted. "Existing statutory provisions are not adequate for enforcement agencies to effectively curb the menace of 'wheeling.' Perhaps, at the time of enacting the Motor Vehicles Act, legislators did not foresee or specifically contemplate that a two wheeler would be driven on hind wheel alone," he reasoned..The judge called on the government to introduce stringent measures against wheeling, particularly since there is an alarming rise in such incidents. "Taking note of the galloping trend and alarming rise in such incidents, it is now the bounded duty of the State and its law enforcement agencies to legislate necessary legal provisions and to take stringent measures to suppress the perilous activity.".The Court has suggested that amendments should be made to the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, as well as India's penal laws to curb the practice of wheeling. "Younger generation riders of the motorcycle are under the misconception that act of wheeling is bravado and indulge in such perilous stunts being unaware of the grave risks involved in the said act. Needless to emphasize that wheeling not only result in endangering the life and safety of the rider or pillion rider but may as well pose serious threat to the general public at large. Thus, act of few unscrupulous and unmindful youth in indulging the wheeling would definitely disturb the public order and tranquility," the Court added. .The Court made the observation while denying bail to a man accused of doing a wheelie on a Yamaha bike along with two pillion riders in October 2024. When the police tried to intercept them, the vehicle skidded and fell, after which they allegedly got into an altercation with the cops. The State claimed that during this standoff, the police were verbally abused, suffered physical injuries and that one of the three accused even took a phone belonging to a staff member and threw it down a canal.All three accused were arrested. The first accused man later moved for bail. After a sessions court rejected his plea, he filed an appeal before the High Court. His counsel alleged that he had been booked in a false case, as there was some rivalry between him and the police.The Court, however, also refused to grant bail after flagging the dangers of wheeling..Among other grounds, the Court took note of the prosecution's claim that the accused-bail applicant was a habitual offender. It also factored in the allegation that the accused had abused the police in filthy language when they tried to help, after the bike fell down. "In light of the aforesaid discussion, mere filing of the charge sheet, by itself, cannot be held sufficient to entitle the petitioner to an order of bail...it is always open to the petitioner to renew his bail request before the appropriate forum if there are any positive changed circumstances in his case," the Court added before rejecting the bail plea. .Advocate Sadiq N Goodwala appeared for the bail applicant. High Court Government Pleader Girija S Hiremath represented the State. .[Read Order]
The Karnataka High Court recently expressed concern that there is no legal provision to specifically tackle the menace of wheelies or 'wheeling'- the practice of driving a two-wheeled vehicle on its hind wheel alone. .Justice V Srishananda observed that those engaging in such acts can, at present, be booked only for negligent or reckless driving, which is bailable in nature. This is not sufficient to effectively deter wheelies, he noted. "Existing statutory provisions are not adequate for enforcement agencies to effectively curb the menace of 'wheeling.' Perhaps, at the time of enacting the Motor Vehicles Act, legislators did not foresee or specifically contemplate that a two wheeler would be driven on hind wheel alone," he reasoned..The judge called on the government to introduce stringent measures against wheeling, particularly since there is an alarming rise in such incidents. "Taking note of the galloping trend and alarming rise in such incidents, it is now the bounded duty of the State and its law enforcement agencies to legislate necessary legal provisions and to take stringent measures to suppress the perilous activity.".The Court has suggested that amendments should be made to the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, as well as India's penal laws to curb the practice of wheeling. "Younger generation riders of the motorcycle are under the misconception that act of wheeling is bravado and indulge in such perilous stunts being unaware of the grave risks involved in the said act. Needless to emphasize that wheeling not only result in endangering the life and safety of the rider or pillion rider but may as well pose serious threat to the general public at large. Thus, act of few unscrupulous and unmindful youth in indulging the wheeling would definitely disturb the public order and tranquility," the Court added. .The Court made the observation while denying bail to a man accused of doing a wheelie on a Yamaha bike along with two pillion riders in October 2024. When the police tried to intercept them, the vehicle skidded and fell, after which they allegedly got into an altercation with the cops. The State claimed that during this standoff, the police were verbally abused, suffered physical injuries and that one of the three accused even took a phone belonging to a staff member and threw it down a canal.All three accused were arrested. The first accused man later moved for bail. After a sessions court rejected his plea, he filed an appeal before the High Court. His counsel alleged that he had been booked in a false case, as there was some rivalry between him and the police.The Court, however, also refused to grant bail after flagging the dangers of wheeling..Among other grounds, the Court took note of the prosecution's claim that the accused-bail applicant was a habitual offender. It also factored in the allegation that the accused had abused the police in filthy language when they tried to help, after the bike fell down. "In light of the aforesaid discussion, mere filing of the charge sheet, by itself, cannot be held sufficient to entitle the petitioner to an order of bail...it is always open to the petitioner to renew his bail request before the appropriate forum if there are any positive changed circumstances in his case," the Court added before rejecting the bail plea. .Advocate Sadiq N Goodwala appeared for the bail applicant. High Court Government Pleader Girija S Hiremath represented the State. .[Read Order]
