The new Supreme Court ruling put a blanket ban on usage of tints or any visual light transmission (VLT) accessory that would reduce occupant visibility from outside. Ruling on a PIL filed by one Avishek Goenka against illegal activities involving cars, the supreme court said that any such accessory except the OEM tints, is against provisions of the CMVR (Central Motor Vehicles Act).
Motorists driving with window tints shall be fined Rs 500, and the constable/officer has the right to remove tints on the spot. The car can be impounded if the owner objects - a dangerous power that is being handed over to the police, who will not have any sympathies for cars with rear defoggers whose wiring is likely to get damaged if the sun film is removed improperly.
Even if the films on the car were legal earlier, they are illegal now.
Manufacturers like 3M, Vkool, Garware have deemed the ruling unfair. The people say that rather than passing such orders, the court should direct the law enforcement agencies to get their act together. This ruling could also indirectly oppose the Environment Ministry ruling for fuel efficiency standards. No window tint means the air conditioner has to work overtime, increasing emissions and decreasing fuel efficiency. One enterprising person in the CarWale office even suggested we go to the local RTO to ask for a refund of the money spent for the sun film since it was installed with the body's approval.
We expect the ruling to be reviewed in the near future, since the people that need to use the darkest window tints are the people who need privacy and/or security, like people in high office or film stars. You'll notice, no doubt, that these are influential people who will also be just as dismayed by the ruling as the ordinary Joe.
Until then, good luck to the everyday commuters - it is the peak of summer, after all.
