Kochi: The state government has permitted top officers of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Forest department to use red, blue or multicoloured flash lights on top of their official vehicles.
“Now the government has decided to include the Inquiry Commissioner and Special Judges, Vigilance Tribunals, Commandant cum Divisional security officer, Railway Protection Force, in Schedule 111 and forest officers who are in charge of the Territorial Wing, Wildlife Wing and Flying Squad in Schedule 1V,” said a notification issued by the Transport Department dated August 26.
The official vehicles of these officers can now be fitted with blue light with or without flasher and multicoloured red, blue and white lights.
This is the first time the railway security officers are being extended the privilege. Schedule 111 also includes vehicles of operational agencies which require unhindered access to the roads for performance of their duty.
They include ambulance and fire services, highway police vehicles, police control room vehicles, flying squad vehicles, police station vehicles, mobile enforcement squad and vehicles of the Motor Vehicles Department.
The notification comes under Rule 108 of the Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1989, that empowers the State to specify the dignitaries and the vehicles on which the lights can be used, official sources said.
Red beacon lights (Schedule 1) vehicles include those of the Governor, Chief Minister, Speaker, Chief Justice and judges of the Kerala High Court, Ministers, Leader of the Opposition, Government Chief Whip, Deputy Speaker, Lok Ayukta and Upa Lok Ayukta, Chief Secretary, Vice-Chairman of the State Planning Board, Vice-Chairman of the Central Administrative Tribunal and Advocate General.
Blue light with flash at the centre on top of the vehicle hood can be used by members of the Kerala Public Service Commission, officers of the ranks of Additional Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary, Law Secretary, Vice-Chancellors, Mayors and all police officers of and above the rank of Superintendent of Police in charge of the districts and law and order duties.
