Chennai: To regulate the alleged indiscriminate use of beacon lights, the first bench of the Madras HC in March 2011 had issued guidelines stating that only 18 VIPs, including Governor, chiÂef minister, deputy chief minister, ministers, MPs, state eleÂction commissioner, DGP, pilot and escÂort veÂhicles could use red beacon light with flasher on top of their vehicles.
While 14 VIPs, including district collectors, inspectors general, DIGs and SPs, were allowed to use amber (yellow) light atop their vehicles while on duty, police officers below the rank of SP and revenue officials even in the rank of DRO weren’t peÂrmitted to use any light. In fact, the amber liÂght is supposed to be coÂvered with a black cover when the vehicle does not carry the official.
“But, in Chennai, noÂbody seems to be sticking to the guidelines issued by the court. Most of the department secretaries, board chairpersons, poÂlÂice officials and VC of certain universities flash beacon lights on their vehicles,” a police official disclosed.
High courts and the SC had been asking the state to limit the facility to heÂads of political executiÂve, legislature, judiciary and persons holding constitutional posts. However, the rampant misuse had been widely noticed as a good number of officials prefer to have beacon on vehicles.
