Court Orders Crackdown on Unauthorized Use of Beacons and Sirens
The Court has mandated a crackdown on the illegal use of red beacons and sirens by bureaucrats, judicial officers, and politicians in Jammu and Kashmir. This directive comes after a Mobile Magistrate (Traffic) in north Kashmir identified unauthorized use of such equipment by civil servants and political figures.
Special Teams to Enforce Compliance
District Mobile Magistrate (Traffic), Sopore, Javaid Ahmad Parray, has instructed the Inspector General (IG) of Traffic Kashmir to form special teams to enforce the ban in the districts of Baramulla, Bandipora, and Kupwara. These teams are tasked with penalizing violators and removing unauthorized equipment from vehicles. If any resistance is encountered, the police and Motor Vehicle Department officers are authorized to seize the vehicles and promptly report the seizures to the Court.
Strict Enforcement Without Favor
The Court emphasized that the enforcement teams must act impartially, regardless of the violator’s rank or status. The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of North Kashmir is also required to establish teams to address violations of Motor Vehicle Rules 108 and 119.
Directives for District Authorities
The Court has directed the Deputy Commissioners of Baramulla, Kupwara, and Bandipora to issue orders prohibiting the use of red beacons and multi-toned sirens by their subordinate officers. Non-compliance with these directives will be considered contempt of court. The relevant officers must submit an action report to the Court by the next hearing date, set for August 15.
Background and Rationale
The issue came to light when traffic officials reported widespread misuse of beacons and sirens, leading to noise pollution and fostering a VVIP culture contrary to the principle of equality. The Court noted that no action had been taken against the violators due to their high status, citing the need to uphold the Supreme Court’s ruling in Abhay Singh v/s State of Uttar Pradesh.
Supreme Court Ruling Reference
The Court reiterated that, except for specific officials outlined in SRO 55, no government officers, including IAS and KAS officers, or judicial officers are authorized to use red lights with or without flashers or multi-colored lights. The ongoing misuse and lack of enforcement reflect a serious disregard for these regulations, prompting the Court’s decisive action.
(With inputs from agency)
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