The Bombay High Court has dismissed charges against a young man who was cited for riding a motorcycle without a helmet and a license in 2017, when he was a minor. However, the court has imposed a unique form of penalty—community service. The division bench comprising Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Rajesh Patil ordered the man to serve four Sundays at the S K Patil Mahanagarpalika General Hospital in Malad, Mumbai.
The court’s decision on January 16 not only absolved the man of the initial charges but also took into consideration his current circumstances. He recently completed his studies and is in the process of seeking employment. Acknowledging the potential negative impact of a criminal record on his job prospects, the justices opted to quash the First Information Report (FIR) filed against him.
The young man must now deposit his driving license with the city police for three months as part of the court’s conditions. Furthermore, he is required to sign an undertaking to always wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle in the future.
In their ruling, the judges noted, “The FIR registered against him is likely to create an obstacle or an impediment if he desires to seek employment in either the public or private sector or even with the state government services of any nature.” This reflects the court’s intention to prevent long-term repercussions on his career due to a mistake made during his youth.
During a surprise police check on October 21, 2017, the young man was stopped for riding without the necessary safety gear and documentation, and his mother, who was accompanying him as a pillion rider, reportedly misbehaved with the police. The court also dismissed the case against his mother but imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 payable to the NGO ‘In Defense of Animals’.
