NEW DELHI, Aug 3:
Refusing to relax its April 27 order banning use of tinted glasses in vehicles, the Supreme Court today warned police chiefs of all States and Union territories of contempt proceedings if they fail to implement the order.
The apex court gave the warning while dismissing a bunch of applications by various dealers and distributors seeking relaxation of the ban imposed by it April 27 this year.
A bench of Justices A K Patnaik and Swatanter Kumar asked the police to not only challan the offending vehicles but also to take forthwith measures to remove materials pasted on glasses by vehicle users.
“We are not emphasising on security threat to nation but it is a clear violation of the law. No material can be pasted on safety glasses, this law needs to be enforced.
“DGPs/CPs (Director Generals and Commissioners of Police) to ensure complete compliance in true letter and substance. At this stage, we will not initiate any action against the DGPs and other officials but issue a clear warning that in case of non-compliance, the court shall be compelled to initiate appropriate action under the contempt of courts act without any notice,” Justice Kumar said.
On July 22, the Supreme Court had expressed its dissatisfaction over tardy implementation of its directions banning the use of tint on car windows, beyond a permissible limit, in Delhi.
The bench had said the roads of the national Capital still had numerous cars with heavily tinted windows and windscreens and that the users or owners of such vehicles, often involved in accidents, go scot-free.
The court had also noted that most of these vehicles were being used by VIPs enjoying Z-category security.
The bench had observed that the VIPs, who were permitted to use tinted film on their vehicles as per the due procedure, were exploiting the relaxation granted to them.
The applications filed by the dealers and distributors urged the apex court to modify the expression “we prohibit the use of black film of any VLT percentage or any other material upon safety glasses” by “we prohibit the use of black films of impermissible VLT percentage or any other material upon the safety glasses”.
“The suggestion of the applicants would be in complete violation of the substantive part of the judgement.
We have already noticed that it is not the extent of VLT percentage of films which is objectionable under the Rules but it is the very use of black films or any other material, which is impermissible to be used on the safety glasses.
“Once the prescribed specifications do not contemplate use of any other material except what is specified in the Explanation to Rule 100 (1), then the use of any such material by implication cannot be permitted,” the apex court said while dismissing the applications. (PTI)
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