Law abiding car owners in India who adhere to the Supreme Court's ruling to remove sun films from cars are burning a hole in their pockets. While complying with the apex court's orders, the buyers who earlier paid huge sums to apply the sun films on their cars as per the previous rules now pay extra amount just to get it off. Those who do not adhere to the new rule are fined by the police.
Previously, the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) rules stated that car owners can have vehicles with 50 per cent tinted windows and 70 per cent tinted front and rear windshields. However, the SC of India passed a ruling that made tinted glasses in cars illegal, though models that came with tinted glasses from the manufacturer's end could ply on roads. This ruling was an effort by the highest judiciary body of the country to curb crimes in cars against women.
Now, car owners who have tinted windows and windshields in their vehicles are lining up at the dealers and accessory outlets in order to remove the same tinted glasses that they paid for earlier. This service comes at a premium, as outlets charge Rs. 300 for getting off the sun films from entry level models, while the charges for high end vehicles like sedans and Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) can go up to Rs. 1200.
According to Harish Sethi, a car owner who now suffers due to the change in government policy, "I had spent Rs 35,000 on putting up sun film on my new car as mandated by the motoring law. Now I am forced to get these removed. Again I am spending a huge amount as specialized services are required to prevent any damages on my Honda City."
Dealers, on the other hand, are not well equipped to handle this sudden increase in demand to get off the sun films. Ravinder Kohli, Popular Car Accessories, New Delhi, stated, "Earlier we used to make money putting up expensive imported sun films for customers, but now we are working tirelessly to get them out. While we may be making money now, but it will eventually kill an important component of the car industry in India."
In response to the Supreme Court's ruling, the companies that had invested huge sums to manufacture the sun films used in cars are now chalking up plans to file a petition with the apex court. In this petition, they will appeal to the court to review the ruling keeping in mind the relevant motor rules.
