SC questions traffic disruption over VIP movements, misuse of beacon

The apex court expressed displeasure over indiscriminate use of red beacon lights and its misuse by people in the name of security.

“Subject to correction, such security are being provided to certain people who are facing serious charges in courts of law. We think we should ask the union government and also state governments as to how many such people have been provided security. In states, different functionaries are allowed to use red light. Even a ‘sarpanch’ (village head) is using red light in Punjab,” observed a bench of Justices G S Singhvi and Gyan Sudha Misra.

Lamenting the inconvenience being caused to the general public, the court also took note of a submission by senior advocate Harish Salve regarding absolute halt of general traffic to give passage to VIP movements.

“Have state governments issued any notification in this regard? We will have to look into several issues once we receive responses from the state governments. We will also examine in what cases traffic are stopped. We know it is not only for the Prime Minister but the traffic is stopped also when others move in the city,” observed the bench.

Incidentally, Salve on Saturday sent a notice to Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar asking him to stop the “unwholesome practice” of disrupting traffic to give passage to VIPs. He said the “practice”

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