THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When the apex court of India finally banned the use of tinted glasses in vehicles it brought abundant joy to a group in the capital city who had been fighting for it for quite some time. The Right to Information Protection Forum, had taken up the issue in 2007 with the State Transport Department. In response to an RTI application, the Forum was informed that the State Government was in the process of introducing a piece of legislation on the matter, but nothing was done. The forum leaders then met the then Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan and he also promised to do the needful. Again nothing was done. “Years ago when my vehicle broke down at a junction in the city, I noticed a few persons in a vehicle tinted glasses abducting a girl. The incident remained in my mind. But there was no interest from the part of the authorities to check the use of tinted glasses on vehicles. We had been after it for a long time but gave up when nothing came of it,” said forum Secretary N Rajendran. The Forum also questions the use of tinted glasses in vehicles by top cops. Speeding police vehicles sporting dark panes is a common sight in the capital city. A Express report last month had also looked into the danger caused by the use of tinted glasses and the inconvenience it caused to sleuths in tracing criminals. The report also pointed out the lavish use of such vehicles by the police officers.Govt Yet to Take Step for ImplementationThe State Government is yet to take any step for implementing the SC order. “We are waiting for a departmental order to take action,” said Mohanan P, Assistant Commissioner, Thiruvananthapuram South. Though the use of tinted glasses with zero visibility was illegal as per the Motor Vehicle Act no case has been registered against anyone till date.
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