CHENNAI: In yet another bid make sure that the helmet rule is strictly enforced in Tamil Nadu , the Madras high court on Tuesday said two helmets should come with every two-wheeler purchase and a new component — helmet lock – too should be provided to boost helmet use.

Justice N Kirubakaran, whose judicial order making helmets compulsory for bikers from July 1 has witnessed unprecedented compliance owing to the threat of confiscation of documents and impounding of vehicles, directed the Centre to issue suitable directives to two-wheeler manufacturers to provide helmet locks in vehicles as a component and not as an accessory.

Referring to the data on road accidents since July 1 furnished by the state government, the judge said the number of deaths "drastically came down" from 582 in June to 498 in July 2015. But, the deaths increased to 571 in August 2015, and there were 289 deaths up to September 15, 2015.

This meant that it was only during July that the helmet rule was "implemented rigorously," he said. "It is also evident that only in urban and semi-urban areas people have started wearing helmets. The rule is not implemented in rural areas. Hence, the state government is directed to implement the rule rigorously in all areas," he said.

Underlining the Motor Vehicle Act which mandated providing helmets to two-wheeler buyers, the judge asked the Centre to ensure that bike manufacturers provided helmets conforming to BIS standards. "If a helmet is provided by the manufacturer, it will prevent the use of sub-standard helmets," he said.

Saying that there was a "practical problem" in keeping the helmet safe, he said a helmet lock would go a long way in easing people's apprehension of losing their helmets. "If the lock is made necessary, and a component of the vehicle, it will definitely enable more people to use helmets," said Justice Kirubakaran.

The judge has been issuing a series of orders for effective enforcement of the mandatory helmet rule, saying prevention of road accident deaths is the constitutional duty of governments and courts. In this regard, he also opined that celebrities too could be roped in to popularize the helmet rule. Already actor Kamal Haasan is advocating the cause, the judge said.

Special public prosecutor Venugopal said information pertaining to road accidents was obtained only from government hospitals, and hence the court could direct private hospitals also to provide information. "It is open for the state government to get all details from private hospitals," said Justice Kirubakaram, directing them to provide the required information through injury certificates.

On its part, the Union ministry of surface transport submitted a typed set of papers providing the standard designs and details of helmets. As no affidavit was filed by the ministry in this regard, Justice Kirubakaran directed the Union government to file an affidavit through a proper person. The matter has been posted on October 30, 2015 for further hearing.