Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Another 'Thuglak Reform' - Sun Films Removal from civilian Cars - Threat of 'Crackdown' ?


Sun Films on Cars - Crackdown Starts from May 19 !!!

Grabbed the newspaper today morning, to see myself staring to these lines on the front page. What are we trying to say by 'Crackdown Starts' ? Does this not show the sadist pleasure of the authorities to sit on the head of civilians ? Are there no lawyers out there who can file a PIL to make the authorities who still sit in ivory castles, to open their eyes to the realities ?

It is referred that " heinous crimes such as rape and dacoity are committed within cars that has sun films fitted ". Sounds so silly, and doesn’t it also read that since the law is unable to control crime on roads, something has to be done. Easier option is this.

Alternatively, if this is the way forward, what is next ?

Are we going to see helmets getting banned on Indian streets as criminals use it to hide their identity ? And, point is clear in this case too, where chain snatching by criminals with helmets-on, are getting reported more these days. So, shall we not do it ?

Next, to go to an extreme, since majority of the heinous crimes such as rape and women abuse are happening inside closed doors, will the law ask all citizens to make sure their home walls are made of transparent thickened glass? This helps because cops on rounds can peep into each house, to keep check on such crimes !

Now, let us come down to reality :

This judgment, which might be as per the Central Motor Vehicles Act, Rule 100 (2) talking about VLT not less than 70 per cent and on side windows not less than 50 per cent would conform to Indian Standards from year 1992. Come to 2012 now. Within these 10 years, the country has changed. We have commute time increased at least 10 folds, we have day temperature increased at least 10 degrees, we have traffic congestion increased at least 50 times.

Now, are we saying that, we go to road, and let the scorching sun come inside the car, all through the long wait in the bumper to bumper traffic ?

Now, are we saying that, anyone on road should be left to peep into the car and its privacy, where many of the school going kids will be having their breakfasts (again, in the interest of time, since in peak hours our city traffic is nothing more than 10 km/hr.), or nursing mothers could be even breast feeding ?

Now, are we going to fall prey to the traffic squad checks, where cops will be stopping almost all cars which have sun control films whether it is RTO approved or not, for verification. Nothing but, more time wasted on road ?

Well, will you let somebody or system play like this with our hard earned money and carefully preserved life? Question is what could be done..Answer seems to be absolutely nothing. Civilians are always the last line of living creatures and anything could be done to them.

Could the system 'crack down' Ajmal Kasab and fellow terrorists ? Could the system 'crack down'  scams (public money which they took in form of tax) and personal favors ? Could the system 'crack down' on at least one civic body or its contactor who digs out every other road which is worthy of driving ? Could the system 'crack down' on any of the crimes where netas are involved ?


But, now it is civilians, and 'crack down' will be immediate for sun films on cars. I am awaiting that 20th May will have a newspapers which will talk about 10L+ INR collected as fine on single day, 5K+ fined on day one etc.

Long live this system of hypocrisy !

Let us forget that

- There is only a negligible minority of criminals who are on road. The absolute majority is so called civilians who run for making their life
- If Criminals want cover, they can as well switch to a pick-up van or something, which can give the cover and there is no absolute necessity for a sun film tinted glass for them
- BMTC buses are plying with full body covered ads, and that is not sun films
- Law becomes toothless when the car belongs to a neta. Forget MP, MLA or MLC...I would be surprised to see if the law intends to stop even the cousin of a grandnephew of a corporator
- the side windows in most cars are not laminated, meaning shatter proof like our front windsheild.So, risk your eye sight since the law want to have cops peeping into your cars
- the vehicle will also be liable for seizure to ensure removal of the sun film on the spot, which is supposed to be done by an expert. if the windscreen gets scratches, it is civilian problem and not the system's


FootNote : I see a comment from a respected advocate from 'Alternate Law Forum' in the newspaper today, on this subject. One question : Sir, Is there no option in the law to get a review petition done, to get the civilians saved from this 'thuglak reform' ? I am sure, there will be thousands of civilians out here, who will thank you and remember you always. I am sure we can even pool-in, if this is expensive.

Finally, can the authorities learn from other states, who has announced that there won’t be any 'crack down' on this subject and it is left as recommendation ? Should you be digging deeper into the civilian wallet, to get more accounts filled with penalties collected on such fozzilized reforms?