New Delhi: After giving a spate of recommendations to improve the traffic system in the city, the Delhi High Court on Monday turned its attention to the menace of vehicles with tinted windows, a major cause of crimes like rape and murder.

A Bench comprising Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice H R Malhotra pulled up the state government and the traffic police for going slow against such offenders and asked them to bring a notification banning sale of black films, used in car windows.

‘‘How can the government be so insensitive to such a huge problem? All rapes, murders happen inside such vehicles with tinted glass. Every second car can be seen with such windows in Delhi,’’ the Bench observed, while reserving its order in the case which relates to improvement of the traffic situation in Delhi. The court had taken suo motu cognisance of the matter on a Times Of India news report highlighting the worsening traffic system in Delhi, which had lead to an increase in road accidents.

Saying that ‘‘Black film is very dangerous’’, the court recalled how most recent incidents of rape of young girls in the Capital occurred in cars using black films.

Mukta Gupta, counsel appearing for the government, assured the court that stringent measures would be put in place to put an end to tinted windows and that vehicles would be challaned immediately. However, she sought, and was granted two days’ time, to place the stand of the government before the Bench on issuing of notification for ban of films.

In this regard, the court inquired whether the government and the legislature had any power to ban its manufacture. ‘‘With the summer season approaching, this is the time to ban sale of black films because most people get their windows tinted during this period. In fact, offending vehicles must be impounded. You have such powers under the act but there is no seriousness on your part,’’ the Bench remarked.

Earlier, the court had also appointed a four-member committee to regulate the use of black films on windows and screens and prohibited their use without the approval of the committee.

On a related matter, the Bench also directed the government to take disciplinary action against bus drivers, both Delhi Transport Corporation and Blueline, who were not in uniform while driving.

It had, earlier, suggested recruitment of qualified drivers and directed the Delhi Transport Corporation not to recruit any new driver until the court passed the order determining the educational qualification for them. This directive came after the court was informed that Delhi Transport Corporation was planning to induct 3,000 more drivers.

Source: TOI(Delhi-epaper)

Entry Filed under: Delhi Traffic News