While the Transport department has started penalising the ordinary citizens, the bureaucrats and officers still seem to be a privileged lot as government vehicles with dark tint can be seen plying on the city without any of them being penalised. The Supreme Court, on May 4, issued orders prohibiting the use of dark films or any other material on the safety glasses, windscreen (front and rear) and side windows of vehicles and also directed the police to ensure compliance of the directions. While the city police have given 15 days’ time to the citizens to get the tint films removed, the transport department has already penalised 250 vehicles.
Citizens have raised objection to the fact that several government vehicles plying around Vidhana Soudha, Vikasa Soudha and even the police commissioner’s office have been found using the black films. “You can still see so many government vehicles plying freely on the roads with the black films. They don’t seem to be in any hurry to get it removed,” said Mr Bablu Rathore, a resident. The traffic police who have started 10 special camps to assist citizens in getting the black films removed, however have no such special initiatives for government agencies. “All that they need to do is start a drive in Vidhana Soudha and Vikasa Soudha for government vehicles. Why haven’t they done that? Does the rule apply only to the rest of us and not them,” asked Tony K., a student of Presidency College.
Since there is no rule on issuance of separate orders to government offices to remove the black films, the traffic police have decided to wait till the May 19 deadline. “We have not fined anyone, we are giving everyone time till May 19 after which we will take action against anyone flouting Supreme Court order,” said Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) M.A. Saleem.