Authorities cannot penalize vehicle owners for maintaining Safety Glazing that conforms to VLT requirements as per amended Central Motor Vehicles Rules, reflecting lawful compliance.

JUDGMENT :

N. NAGARESH, J.

The question arising for consideration in these writ petitions is as to whether the State Government in the Departments of Police or Motor Vehicles are legally authorised to penalise owners of motor vehicles who are maintaining the “Standards of Visual Transmission of Light (VLT)” as specified under Rule 100 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 ('CMV Rules', for short) as amended with effect from 01.04.2021, by using “Safety Glazing” conforming to the standards stipulated under the Indian Standard; IS.2553 (Part 2) (First Revision); 2019.

2. In W.P.(C) No.23146/2022, the 1^st petitioner is a Partnership Firm. The 1^st petitioner is the sole distributor for the State of Kerala for products manufactured by M/s.Garware Hi-Tech Films Limited, Aurangabad, Maharashtra. The 2^nd petitioner is a citizen who was imposed with a fine of ₹250/- as per Ext.P8 challan issued by the 5^th respondent-AMVI, alleging non-compliance of the standards of VLT for the wind screen or window glasses of his vehicle (motor car) bearing registration No.KL-39M-7002.

3. The petitioners in W.P.(C) No.28289 of 2022 are aggrieved by the action of the Regional Transport Officer in issuing notices threatening cancellation of their registration on the ground that their shops are selling vehicle accessories and affixing sun films in motor vehicles causing alteration, in violation of Sections 52 and 182A(4) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 .

4. Rule 100 of the CMV Rules as it stood prior to substitution effected from 01.04.2021 as per Ext.P4 Notification, was as follows:

“100.Safety glass:

(1) The windscreen and window glass of every motor vehicle including agriculture tractor fitted with cabin, construction equipment vehicle fitted with cabin and combine harvester shall be made of safety glass or safety glazing material:

Provided that in L5 category vehicles (three wheelers) and vehicles with hood and side coves, the window glass may be made of acrylic or plastic transparent sheet.

Explanation - For the purposes of this rule,-

(i) safety glass or safety glazing means the materials confirming to IS 2553 (Part 2) (Revision 1): 2019;

(ii) windscreen and window glass of motor vehicle, the inner surface of which is at an angle more than thirty degrees to longitudinal axis of the vehicles, shall be deemed to face to the front.

(2) The safety glass or safety glazing of the windscreen and rear window of every motor vehicle shall be so manufactured to provide not less than seventy percent visual transmission of light and it shall conform to Indian Standard IS 2553 (Part 2) (Revision 1): 2019 as amended from time to time.

(3) The safety glass or safety glazing used for side windows of every motor vehicle shall be so manufactured to provide not less than fifty percent visual transmission of light and it shall conform to Indian Standards IS 2553 (Part 2) (Revision 1): 2019 as amended from time to time.

(3-A) The owner of every motor vehicle shall maintain the visual transmission of light through safety glass or safety glazing as specified in sub-rule (2) and sub-rule (3).

(3-B) The glass of the front wind screen of a combine harvester shall be made of laminated safety glass.

(3-C) In cases where any manufacturer has complied with the provisions of this rule as they exist till the 31^st March, 2021, such manufacturer may continue to do so till the 31^st March, 2022, and in that situation it shall be presumed as if the provisions of clause (b) of rule 2 of the Central Motor Vehicles (Seventh Amendment) Rules, 2020, come into force, on the 1^st April, 2022:

Provided that the manufacturers who comply with the provisions of this rule as they exist on the 1^st April, 2021, they shall continue to do so.

(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in this rule if the Central Government is of the opinion that it is necessary and expedient to do so in public interest, it may, by order published in the Official Gazette, exempt [any motor vehicle including construction equipment vehicle]