Chennai: Much before the state government could frame new rules to on the Supreme Court’s decision limiting the use of red beacons on official cars, senior police officers, including DGP K. Ramanujam and DGP Ashok Kumar of the state police headquÂarters, voluntarily took off the red flashers from their official vehicles and replaced these with blue ones, thereby setting an example for many political leaders and many of thÂÂeÂir junior officials who use them unlawfully.
This is expected to inspire their juniors to remove their red beacons and replace these wÂith ones which are leÂgally permitted. The red beacon was first remÂovÂed by intelligence DÂGP Ashok Kumar and on Monday, state police chiÂef Ramanujam followed suit. “A few others have also removed their reÂd beacon lights in view of the Supreme CoÂuÂrÂt direction on limited use of red beacons,” saÂid a senior police officiÂal.
The Supreme Court orders directed that states and Union territories could not enlarge the scope of high dignitaries beyond the prescribed notifications of January 2002 and July 2005 of the Union government. Further, the court asked the states to amend the notifications to bring them in tune with the 1989 rules and notifications of January 2002 and July 2005 within three months.
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s DeceÂmber 10 judgment, asking the Central and state governments to limit the use of flashers and red beacons, the transport department is expecÂted to frame new rules.
