Officials flout car beacon rule

VELLORE/ TIRUVANNAMALAI: Flagrantly violating the Government Order (GO) and Madras High Court directive on the use of red beacon lights, several second-rung officials from the revenue and police departments in Vellore and Tiruvannamalai districts, who are not authorised to use the beacon light, are found using it. The GO issued in the month of June 2008, and a subsequent High Court order issued in the first week of March last year, have clearly stated that only 19 authorities in public office including the Governor, Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, Ministers, State Election Commissioner, Mayors, senior police officers such as DGP, IGs and DIGs are entitled to use the red beacon lights on their vehicles. In the districts, the collector and the superintendent of police (SP) are the only officials entitled to use the siren lights. Regulations also state that the beacon light in the car should be covered with a black cover when it is not carrying the dignitaries.However, a number of second-level officers in both police and revenue departments, unmindful of the GO and the HC’s direction, seem to be taking their own call and are going around in cars with siren lights to show off their officialdom. For instance, District Revenue Officer of Tiruvannamalai S Valarmathi and Project Officer District Rural Development Agency of Vellore Srinivasan have been reportedly using cars (TN 25 AG 3333) and (TN 23 AH 7272) fitted with beacon lights. Similarly sub-collectors, additional collectors and several police officers in the ranks of additional superintendent of police (ADSP) and deputy superintendent of police (DSP) sport the red beacon light on their vehicles. Many of them are also using vehicles with sirens for their personal purposes.Sources in the police department said that many DSPs in Vellore Range had fitted the siren lights to differentiate their vehicles from those used by inspectors of police, as both of them had been provided with TATA Sumo cars. “The siren light is a status issue and a matter of pride for many DSPs,” said a police official on condition of anonymity.However, some officials feel that District Revenue Officer , RDOs, Tahsildars and DSPs, who are dealing with law and order issues, should be allowed to use the siren lights.