From now on can stick cooling film on cars; no action and no fine from MVD

KOCHI: The high court has allowed the installation of cooling films on vehicles including cars. Justice N Nagaresh stated that it is permissible to release the cooling film in accordance with the approved conditions and the authorities have no right to take legal action or impose fines on this account.

The important verdict of the high court was on a plea filed by the vehicle owner, the company that manufactures cooling film, and the company that issued a notice to the Motor Vehicle Department stating that the registration will be canceled for trading in the cooling film against the imposition of penalty for installing the cooling film.

According to the amendment of section 100 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, which came into effect from April 1, 2021, safety glazing is allowed to be used instead of safety glass on the front, rear and sides of vehicles. Safety glazing conforming to the 2019 norms of the Bureau of Indian Standards is permitted. The definition of safety glazing includes plastic film applied to the inside of safety glass. But the rules say that these should have 70 percent transparency on the front and back, 50 percent on the sides. The court stated that the use of such films is legal.

The opposition pointed out that the Supreme Court had banned the use of such films, but the court held that the existing judgments were before the amendment of the rules and only safety glass was allowed then. The court also rejected the argument that only the vehicle manufacturer is allowed to install safety glazing in vehicles.