West Bengal clamps down on beacon use

TNN Jun 20, 2014,KOLKATA: Following a Supreme Court directive, the state government on Monday imposed restrictions on the use of beacons by officials of various categories in the state. The Supreme Court order was given on December 12, 2013. And this time, the state government has also come up with punitive measures against those who will flout its notification and the amount of penalty will be as high as Rs 600.

The government notification clearly states that no one other than the governor, chief minister, cabinet ministers, speaker of the Assembly, leader of the opposition in the Assembly, chief justice of Calcutta high court and other high court judges are entitled to use red beacon with flashers atop their cars.

The chief secretary, city mayor, deputy speaker of the Assembly and ministers of state can use red lights without flashers. Others can't use red light atop their cars.

The state government allows parliamentary secretaries, advocate general, additional solicitor general, state election commissioner, chairman of state administrative tribunal, chairman of state minorities commission, chairman of commission for backward classes and the chairman of state public service commission to use blue light with flasher on top of their vehicles, said state transport minister Madan Mitra.

Earlier, the Bharat Ratna awardee, ministers of state, advocate general were included in the first category and therefore, they could use the red beacon with flasher. They can now use blue beacon with flasher.

The chief secretary and principal secretary, chairman of state administrative tribunal and chairman of municipalities can use the red beacon without flasher. State government secretaries, heads of police agencies, directorates, commissionerates, district magistrates, district superintendents of police are entitled for blue lights without flasher.

For emergency services like fire tenders, disaster management groups, rescue vans of civil defence and emergency services of police authorities, multicoloured light with red, blue and white combination can be used, said principal secretary (transport) Alapan Bandyopadhyay.

The state government has also specified that the accused may have to pay a penalty of Rs 600 under rule 108 (1) (iii), rule 108 (2), (3) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. However, there has been no instance of penalization for illegal use of beacon. The notification clearly states that in case of the vehicle fitted with red/blue light atop is not carrying the dignitaries, then such light must be covered with black beacon-cover.

The state notification says that sirens are allowed only in ambulances, vehicles used for firefighting or salvage purposes, those used by police officers or operators of construction equipment and officers of the motor vehicles department in the course of their duty. Stating that red lights "symbolize power", the Supreme Court had said there is a stark distinction between those who are allowed to use them and those who are not. "A large number of those using vehicles with red lights have no respect for the laws of the country and they treat the ordinary citizens with contempt," the SC bench had said.

SC directives

Only constuitutional functionaries and high dignitaries can use red beacon.

Those engaged in emergency duties, ambulance, fire-services, defence department vehicles can have bluem white or multi-colour beacon.

Any type of beacon or flashers can be used only when the officials are on duty and otherwise they are to be kept covered.

Pressure horns, multiple sound emitting horns, and musical horns are banned.

Sirens can only be used by police ambulances, fire engines, and vehicles in salvage operations for emergency purposes.

Amend motor vehicles act to enhance penalty for illegal use of beacons and pressure or musical horns from the present Rs 100

Conduct drive to remove such beacons and horns immediately and issue challans.

Finalise the list of dignitaries entitles to beacons and issue a notice within three months.