SC restricts use of red lights by VIP vehicles

Orders removal of multi-tone horns, restricts red light only to constitutional dignitaries

The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday imposed tough conditions on the use of red lights on VIP vehicles. The apex court said such “luxuries” can be availed of only by constitutional dignitaries. Unauthorised multi-tone horns must be removed within a month, the court order said. The provisions in the Motor Vehicles Act refers to “high dignitaries” who can be provided such facilities. However, the SC narrowed the term to include only those holding “various  posts, positions and offices specified in the Constitution.” The judgment, delivered by a Bench headed by judge G S Singhvi, stated that vehicles carrying  “high dignitaries”, as specified by the Centre by the state governments, might be fitted with red lights but such lights, with or without flasher, can be used only while the specified “high dignitary” was on duty and not otherwise. The judgment further said the state governments and administration of Union territories cannot enlarge the scope of the term “high dignitaries”. They shall amend the rules within three months to bring these in tune with the judgment.

The court specifically barred a number of officers from using the red lights.   “The men in uniform; operational agencies which require un-hindered access to the roads for performance of their duty; those engaged in emergency duties such as ambulance services, fire services,  emergency maintenance, etc, and police vehicles used as escorts or pilots or for law and order duties shall not be entitled to have red lights but lights of other colours, e.g., blue, white, multicoloured, etc,” the judgment clarified.

The police officers and other authorities entrusted with of enforcing the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act and the Rules must discharge their duties without any fear or favour and should impose appropriate penalty on those who violate the prohibition, the court said . It passed these rules in an appeal moved by a public interest petitioner, abhay Singh, against the Allahabad high court.