Orissa cracks whip on illegal red beacons

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"We have written letters to district collectors, superintendents of police, commissioners of police to ensure removal of unauthorised red beacons on vehicles by March 3. We have directed them to take action if anybody is found violating the rules," state Transport Secretary Satyabrat Sahu said.

The directive came following the Orissa High Court's order last Tuesday. Hearing a petition filed by an NGO Utkal Vidyarthi Abhijan, the two judge bench consisting of Chief Justice I.M. Quddusi and Justice Sanju Panda had directed the state government to curb the "rampant" misuse of red beacons.

As per the law, only 42 state officials including the chief minister, cabinet ministers, and high court judges are entitled to use red beacons.

The state transport department has proposed to allow district level officials to use blue and yellow beacons in place of red beacons on official vehicles.

"We have given a proposal to the state government which colour beacon the collectors and other district officials will use and which colour beacon would be used by the district superintendents of police and senior officials. Once that proposal is passed they will be allotted accordingly," Sahu said.