Chief Justice DB Bhosle directs HC staff to remove beacon atop their cars

Allahabad: In a welcoming step to end VIP culture in state, Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court, DB Bhosle has directed his staff to remove red beacon atop their cars and not to put it in future.

Later on, many other judges also directed their staff to remove red beacon and other judicial staff of the High Court who were using blue beacon atop their cars also removed the VIP symbol.

It could be recalled that the Centre has made effective, the amendment in Motor Vehicle Act and barred the officials from using beacons atop their vehicles

The amended law will be effective from May 1, 2017.The new rule, however, exempts emergency services like fire tenders, ambulances and police to use blue beacons under the new rule.

Apart from these services only five categories of people will be exempt from the new rule which includes the President of India, the Vice President of India, the Prime Minister of India, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India.

Road transport ministry on last Thursday issued a draft notification specifying that vehicles escorting official cars of VIPs won't be allowed to use blue beacons. The draft, which is out for public suggestion and objection, also mentions that the power to notify the vehicles meant for emergency and disaster management services that can use multi-coloured red, blue and white light will be with the Central government.

Till now, states had the authority to specify such vehicles. The draft notification also put an end any scope for anyone to install a beacon and put a cover on it to avoid penal action. It has proposed to do away with such existing provision.