Coimbatore Consumer Cause (CCC) has urged Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways to go in for amendment of Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) to bring in a clause against use of screens in four-wheelers and also in respect of Visual Light Transmission (VLT) levels with regard to side window panes.

Secretary of CCC, K. Kathirmathiyon said that the Supreme Court passed an order in a public interest litigation against the use of black films or any material on the windscreens and windowpanes of motor vehicles. Even though the CMVR 100 (2) specifies 70 per cent and 50 per cent VLT standard for windshields and side windows respectively, the court had totally banned the use of black films on the glasses even if the VLT of the original glass was much higher the permitted VLT level. The Court had said that “manufacturer of the vehicle may manufacture the vehicles with tinted glasses which have VLT of glass windscreens (front and rear) as 70 per cent VLT of window panes as 40 per cent VLT, respectively. No black film or any other material can be pasted on the windscreens and window panes.

The Supreme Court in all its references throughout the order mentioned 70 per cent and 50 per cent VLT as per the CMVR. But in the operative part, the Court had ordered for manufacture of tinted glasses which have 40 per cent for side window panes. Since the 40 per cent VLT stipulated by the court is contrary to CMVR's 50 per cent, the Govt. may seek clarification and make necessary amendment in the CMVR, if required. The registering officials are not equipped with ‘Luxometer' to measure the level of VLT. Hence all new vehicles must have glasses as per the order of the Court and should contain the VLT details. Further it should be made mandatory that all windscreens and windows must contain the VLT level.