After SC ruling, cops in UT go on dark film overdrive

The Union Territory traffic police were on a black film removal spree on Tuesday by chasing vehicles violating the Supreme Court directive, following a warning to the DGPs and IGs of states and union territories police forces.

Superintendent of Police (traffic), N T Sivadasan, who himself led the operations early on Tuesday Morning, told Express that 189 vehicles were booked on Monday for violating the SC directive. He said the figure could include another 200 vehicles on Tuesday alone by night. The traffic police personnel chased the vehicles and removed the black films on the spot in the presence of owners and users in full public view.

A few vehicle owners who objected were told about the serious implications of the SC directive after which they relented. Even the government vehicles were not spared during the drive, in which trainee women sub-inspectors also took part.

SP Sivadasan said the traffic police have written to the government to instruct the Central government institutions to remove the black films from the windows of their vehicles with immediate effect. Meanwhile, the home ministry has given directions to the UT government to form a panel to decide as who should be eligible for exemption from the SC directive.