The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Writ petition filed in High Court on use of red light on top of vehicles

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Saturday, Apr 12, 2008
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Writ petition filed in High Court on use of red light on top of vehicles

Correspondent

Many officials violating norms, says petitioner

CUTTACK: Flickering red light on the vehicle top is a status symbol. But all are not privileged to use it. Despite umpteen numbers of rules and Acts enacted by both Central and the State Government, some political leaders and government and judicial officials of Orissa are using red lights on their vehicles who are not entitled for it.

Challenging the indiscriminate violations of statutes, a lawyer from Balasore district has moved the Orissa High Court urging it to direct the State Government for proper implementation of provisions governing the use of flickering red light on top of the vehicles.

Petitioner R.K. Dhamudia has brought to the notice of the High Court stating that although the Zilla Parishad chairmen were not entitled to use red light in their vehicle, the Balasore Zilla Parishad Chairman was using the same thereby violating the guidelines laid down in this regard.

Notices issued

Admitting the writ petition on Thursday, a bench of the HC comprising Chief Justice A K Ganguly and Justice B N Mohapatra has issued notices to the State Government, Balasore District Collector and to the Zilla parishad chairman to file counters within four weeks.

Petitioner’s counsel Gyanalok Mohanty argued that despite repeated notices by the State Government to remove red lights from top of their vehicle, several persons are still using the same violating the provisions of law.

Flag Code

Mr. Mohanty pointed out that the Rule 99 of Orissa Motor Vehicle Rules-1993 states that: “A flickering red light with bulb of not more than seven watt may be fitted on the roof top of the vehicle used by the dignitaries who are authorized to fly (display) National Flag as per the instructions embodied in the Flag Code of India.”

Such lights shall be put to be used by vehicles of Judges of High Court, police patrolling and fire services purposes only when the vehicles are in use by such dignitaries or as the case may be when the police patrolling and fire services vehicles are on actual duty, the Rules said.

“But it has come to notice that a large number of officials of different government departments, judiciary and political leaders including officials of Board of Revenue, tribunal judges, district judges, chairmen of Zilla parishad, police officers working in non-police departments like government press, OSRTC, sports, Gridco, chairpersons of corporate bodies, director of prosecution, OPSC chairman are using red lights on top of their vehicles, although they are not authorized to do so,” the petitioner said quoting a government order issued way back in April 1998.

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