SHILLONG: The VIPS and officers are waiting for the deadline set by the Supreme Court to remove the red beacons from their official vehicles.
The Supreme Court had on December 10 last issued an order directing all the states and union territories to restrict the use of red beacons and also multi-toned horn, giving the dead line of three months for the Government to implement the order.
While a few officials had removed the red beacons, majority still want to use them till March 10, the date of expiry of the deadline fixed by the Court.
When contacted, the Acting Chief Secretary Barkos Warjri said that he would seek a report from the Transport department on the list of persons who can use the red beacons.
However, an official source said that though the list is ready, this needs the approval of the Transport Minister HDR Lyngdoh or the Cabinet.
However, the Supreme Court does not specify that the matter needs the approval of the minister concerned or the cabinet as a notification by the Government on the matter would be sufficient since the persons who can avail the red beacons, are clearly mentioned in the order of the Court.
As per the list prepared by the State Government based on the order of the Supreme Court, those who can use the red beacons include the Chief Minister, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, Chairman of State Planning Board, Chairperson of Meghalaya Public Service Commission, Chief Secretary, Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court, Judges of High Court. Parliamentary Secretaries in the State who are equated eacon misuse ..
(Contd from P-1) with the status of Deputy Ministers can also avail the read beacons.
The Chief Executive Members (CEMs) and Executive Members (EMs) of the district councils are not in the list of those who can use the red beacons. If they are equated with status, salary and perks of those who are already in the prepared list, they would also be eligible to use the red beacons.
Director General of Police and other police officials are barred from using red beacons. They can only use blue beacons or a mixture of blue and white colours.
According to the order of the Supreme Court, the operational agencies and the men in uniform, ambulance services, fire services, emergency maintenance and police vehicles used as escorts or pilots or for law and order duties will not be entitled to have red lights, “but lights of other colours,-blue, white or multicolored light”, can be used.
There is a strict order from the Court that if the vehicles are not carrying dignitaries, lights should not be used and the beacons should be covered by black cover.
Though there is a deadline of three months for the ban on the use of red beacons, the Court wanted the States and the union territories to ban the use of multi toned horns within one month from vehicles other than those who are permitted to use.
The State Government is required to amend the motor vehicle rules to hike the fine against those who violate the order of the Court on the issue of use of read beacons and the multi toned horns.