The Supreme Court on Thursday took serious view of failure of the Centre and the state governments in implementing its verdict banning the use of black films in motor vehicles stating that examples of such violations with impunity are witnessed on the roads of the national capital.
“There is least implementation of the order. On roads lot of vehicles with black films are visible. Especially, the affluent class people, are using cars with black films with impunity while action is taken only against the common people,” a bench comprising Justices A.K. Patnaik and Swatanter Kumar said.
Issuing a warning to the Centre and the state governments that the rules related to “tinted glasses” have to be followed in letter and spirit, the top court said its April 27 verdict had only reinforced the same and nothing beyond that.
The strong comments from the top court came before it reserved its verdict on a bunch of applications filed by some states and private parties seeking clarification on some aspects of the verdict.
The apex court said that the issue raised in these applications would be considered only in the light of the rules framed under the Motor Vehicle Act, which prescribes the limit for front and rear windscreens is 70 per cent and for side glasses 40 per cent. But the condition is that it should be in-built in the manufacturing of the vehicle as pasting of the black films is strictly prohibited.
The top court made it clear that no party could expect that its clarification order would substitute the rules. “We will go strictly by the rules framed under the Motor Vehicle Act and had done the same in the order passed on April 27,” the bench said.
The top court had made the ban order enforceable from May 4 with a direction to the home secretaries, DGPs and police commissioners to enforce the prohibition. The Centre was asked to ensure compliance of the order in letter and spirit.
However, exemption was given to VIP vehicles having “Z” and “Z-plus” security cover and the home department and police authorities were asked to consider such applications strictly under the rules.