A few days ago, we came across a report from Kerala where the High Court made a ruling stating that it is permissible to use windscreens or window glasses of motor vehicles with ‘safety glass’ or ‘safety glazing,’ including ‘glazing faced with plastics.’ There was a lot of confusion regarding this ruling, and it appears that the Kerala MVD has stepped in to clarify the matter. The Transport Commissioner has confirmed that the MVD won’t be appealing against the HC ruling and called it logical.
While speaking to Manorama Online, Transport Commissioner C.H. Nagaraju said that the ruling by the Kerala High Court is based on logic. He discussed the point where the court mentioned that some premium-category cars come with such safety glazing from the factory, and it would be unfair to deny people who own less expensive cars the option to install such plastic glazing. He added that by implementing this new ruling, all car owners can enjoy the benefits of safety glazing.
After the ruling, there were rumors that the state government or the Motor Vehicle Department might appeal to a higher court. However, the commissioner has now clarified that they are not planning such a move. This decision comes as a relief to many car owners in the state as they can now install safety glazing on the windscreen and windows without worrying about fines or penalties.
The commissioner, however, mentioned that customers should only install glazing that meets the required standards. As per the standards, the films on the front and rear windscreens must have 70 percent visibility, while the side windows should allow 50 percent of light in.
The court, while considering the petition, noted that in addition to safety glass, safety glazing is permitted under an amendment to Rule 100 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, effective from April 1, 2021.
If a motor vehicle’s windscreen or windows are equipped with toughened or laminated glass that complies with Indian Standards and the permissible VLT (Visible Light Transmission), it qualifies as ‘glazing faced with plastics’ under the definition of ‘glazing’ in Indian Standard IS 2553 (Part 2) (First Revision): 2019 and Global Technical Regulation. Such materials — providing at least 70% VLT on the windscreen and rear window, and 50% VLT on the side windows — are permissible for use.
The officer also mentioned that while there won’t be any fines or penalties against car owners using safety glazing on the glass and windows, there will be regular checks and inspections to ensure that people follow the rules and do not use glazing that is too dark and not up to the required standards.
There are many brands in the market that offer such products. Even Maruti offers UV-cut glass in higher variants of cars sold via Nexa dealerships.
This UV-cut glass blocks harsh light without compromising visibility, and safety glazing serves a similar purpose. We hope more states legalize such safety glazing so that people don’t face issues during peak summer. Such glazing would help cool the cabin faster by limiting the light and heat entering the vehicle.
