State transport minister Diwakar Raote’s announcement of making an indemnity bond compulsory for bike riders defies logic and challenges its legality because any law of the land has to be equal for all here, the people who hold licences for driving all kinds of vehicles, and of course bikes.

One may not doubt Raote’s good intentions he wants to discipline bike riders who violate traffic rules frequently. The city and other parts of the state have been witnessing increasing number of deaths on roads the bike riders have a significant share in these casualties. In Mumbai, the JJ flyover, the sea-link and eastern freeway have been barred for bikes. The police also keep a close watch on Marine Drive and Palm Beach Road in Navi Mumbai for drag races that are usually held in the odd hours.