Mangaluru: Sikhs in city filed a complaint to deputy commissioner Sasikanth Senthil on Thursday against a vehicle inspector, who allegedly humiliated a community member by forcing him to wear helmet despite there is relaxation in rules.

Community members led by Guru Singh Sabha Society complained to the DC that one of their members Karmender Singh Rathore was subjected to humiliation for not wearing helmet during a two-wheeler driving test at Vamanjoor on December 19. Community members alleged that the vehicle inspector Nagaraja Bhat has humiliated Karmender with remarks in Kannada that “you should wear helmet, if you have head.”

Guru Singh Sabha Society leader Balvinder Singh Virdi, said Karmender was asked by the officer to wear helmet during the two-wheeler driving test. Karmender told the officer about a letter issued by the Karnataka State Minority Commission that refers exemption of turban wearing Sikhs from helmet rules. However, the officer was not ready to accept the arguments of Karmender, he said and added that though the Motor Vehicle Act 1988 makes it mandatory to wear helmet while riding two-wheelers, Sikh community members with turbans are exempted.

Community members sought action against the officer for humiliating Karmender on the basis of religion.

When contacted, DC Sasikanth Senthil told that he has received a complaint from Sikh community members and he has ensured action too.

“There is an exemption for the sikh community from wearing helmet. They have quoted it in their complaint which I also saw in the rules. I have told the RTO to initiate action against the person who talked rudely. The officer should not have spoken rudely even if somebody is not wearing helmet,” the DC said.