No beacons, sirens please!

Cars with red beacons and wailing sirens are once again in the news, thanks to the Supreme Court taking up the issue in right earnest, in the process imparting some home-truths to the Governments of the day. Among other things, the Court told the Centre and the States to revisit the subject and severely curtail the use of red beacons with sirens, which would bring “everyone at par though it may hurt some egos for some time”.

The Bench also said: “Even now a small section of the society considers (itself) special and apart from ordinary citizens, and this appears to be the primary reason why government after government has issued notifications under (the) MV Act allowing use of red beacons on vehicles”.

The last comment is interesting in view of the fact that the Court has asked both the Centre and the State Governments to reconsider the issue itself and take a decision on it by the second week of July, because it is “not desirable for courts to pass orders in every matter”.

Deep-rooted implications

The question is: If the executive was not prompt in taking remedial action in the past, will it do so now? The “inactivity” is not difficult to fathom. Since a curtailment in the use of red beacons and sirens will immediately affect the political masters the officials who are expected to draw up the fine print, it will not be surprising if they are found to drag their feet on the matter.

The Court itself put its finger on the pulse of public sentiment when it said (as reported): “The general public hates vehicles with red beacons and sirens mainly because of the brazen manner in which the police stops them to allow the VIP car to have a smooth passage”. Simply put, such action should have no place at all in India where “equality” of citizens forms the bedrock of the Constitution.

There cannot be any exceptions to general rules of, say, traffic movement merely based on the “job status” of certain individuals. As the Court said, ambulances and fire brigades must always have right of way because any disruption could lead to social loss. Similarly, Army personnel and policemen on emergency duty (which does not include family visits to shopping malls) too should be allowed right of passage.

Job status, the determinant

The President, being considered ceremonially the First Citizen of the republic, and the State Governors the first citizens of their respective States should be made exceptions to the rule, but the line should be firmly drawn there. Generally speaking, a busy schedule should never be treated as a reason for acquiring red-beacon status.

The 21st Century has no place for red beacons and sirens which, in India at least, have outlived their utility, particularly during the years of the Raj and earlier when nawabs and princes ruled the roost in the subcontinent.