Red beacons only for people holding constitutional posts: Supreme Court

Months after it asked the centre and the states to remove sirens from vehicles of VIPs, the Supreme Court today ordered providing red beacons only to vehicles used by people holding constitutional posts and high dignitaries.

In its order, the apex court also stated that governments could not enlarge list of VIPs to be given beacon on their vehicles.

Welcoming the SC order Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah tweeted, ''It's amazing how some people are married to this symbol of power. If the PM doesn't need a red beacon why should anyone else.''

The court added that both the central and state governments would within three months come out with a pruned list of constitutional functionaries entitled for red beacon lights on official vehicles.

The court added that exemplary penalty be levied for violations of its direction.

The bench headed by justice GS Singhvi in its direction said that the sirens be used only on  emergency duty and police vehicles but the sound should not be unduly harsh and shrill.

The court ordered that the police would implement the provisions of Motor Vehicle Act without fear or favour.

The SC had commented earlier that the use of beacons and sirens was a "reflection of British Raj".

The bench had earlier observed that the red beacon and siren, granted by government to VIPs, was a menace to society and needed to be stopped.