Date:04/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/04/stories/2009010451070300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Misuse of beacon lights on the rise in Krishnagiri district

R. Arivanantham

Many officials using red light atop vehicles as status symbol

Photo: N. Bashkaran

Violating rules: Krishnagiri District Panchayat Chairman M.R. Rajendran’s official car with beacon light. —

KRISHNAGIRI: Misuse of beacon lights atop vehicles is on the rise in the district. Many government officials right from District Revenue Officers (DRO), Project Officer of District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Revenue Divisional Officers (RDO), Deputy Superintendents of Police and Inspectors of Police, besides Chairmen of District Panchayats, among others, in the district are using the red lights extensively as status symbol violating the Motor Vehicles Act.

Official sources told ‘The Hindu’ that only the following dignitaries are eligible to use beacon lights: Governor, Chief Minister, Speaker, Mayors, Ministers, Chief Justice and Judges of High Court, Director General of Police (Law and Order), Police Commissioners, District Collectors, Superintendents of Police, Range DIGs of Police, State Election Commissioner, Chairman of Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, Inspector Generals of Police ( Law and Order), Chairman and Member of Advisory Board for National Securities Act and Arcot Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali. Besides ambulances, pilot and escort vehicles can also be fitted with revolving lights.

Of the VIPs, the Collector and the SP are the two district-level officials who are entitled to use the red revolving light on their vehicles. “Even the district judge, Chief Judicial Magistrate or any of the judicial officials at the district level cannot use beacon lights,” RTO sources said.

Following reports in newspapers and electronic media, politicians and officials removed them for a while and started using it again after a ‘cooling off’ period, violating the Motor Vehicles Act.

Officials say that even those who are allowed to use beacon lights should keep it covered whenever he or she is not travelling in the vehicle.

Fine

A senior officer said if a vehicle is found to sport lights other than those permitted, it is a clear violation under the Motor Vehicles Act. The police can impose a fine on the vehicle owner and seize the light.

A senior officer attached to the Special Branch said that DSPs and Inspectors are not using it as status symbol, but to maintain law and order during violence and naxalite combing operations.