The Gujarat High Court Wednesday set Nov 30 for the state government to make wearing of helmets for two-wheeler riders compulsory.

At the same time, a bench comprising K.R. Vyas and Akshay Mehta came down harshly on the government for failing to implement the rule in spite of having five months to do so.

The government had urged the court Monday that helmets be made compulsory only from Jan 1, 2006 in seven municipal corporations and later in a phased manner in the rest of the state.

It cited non-availability of standardised helmets for requesting a delay in implementing the rule, which has attracted flak from across the state.

"In the present context, the implementation seems next to impossible," the government stated in its petition.

Taking note of the rising road accidents in the state, the high court had directed the government to make helmets obligatory for all two-wheeler riders by Aug 1. This was subsequently extended to Sep 1.