Several of us while driving have had the misfortune of harassment by cars with flashing red lights trying to get ahead under the pretext that they are carrying VIPs to their destinations. In the past few years, the number of such cars has increased exponentially giving us the impression that our Government functionaries, political and otherwise, have no other business than to be on the roads, busily criss-crossing the city from meeting to meeting. It now appears that most of those using red lights were not in any way entitled to do so. And, as usual, it has taken the courts to try and set right this menace.

The matter came to judicial notice following a public interest litigation filed in the Tirupur Court. That town had apparently become a byword for official misuse of the privilege of fitting red lights on cars. Following an investigation it was revealed that only 19 dignitaries were authorised to use the red lights. They included the Governor, Chief Minister, Speaker, Ministers, Mayors, Chief Justice and other judges, Director General of Police (Law and Order), ambulances, escort and pilot vehicles, Chairman and Member of Advisory Board constituted under National Securities Act, zonal Inspectors-General of Police (law and order). And at the District level, only the Collector and the Superintendent of Police are allowed to use the red light. In addition to these, the Nawab of Arcot, who is accorded the status of a Cabinet Minister, is also allowed to use it. He, incidentally, is the only private citizen to be accorded this honour.

The court has ordered that vehicles belonging to officials who are not authorised to use red lights but are nevertheless doing so be seized at once. The administration has promised to act immediately. Which means that all those Vice-Chancellors, Directors of Government Departments, and political busybodies who had aggrandised for themselves the right to use these red lights will have to forfeit them. It may come as a sore disappointment to them, but to the common man it will no doubt be a relief, for it will hopefully result in a fewer number of speeding government cars that jump traffic lights on the sole strength of having a red light.

What is most disappointing, however, is the apathy of the administration that allows such rampant misuse of official rights and perquisites. Is it not possible for government
officials and our rulers to follow the law even in such simple matters as mere symbols of official status?

Does it require a directive from the courts, when a decent level of self-regulation could have been practised in the first place? Perhaps what is needed next is a public interest litigation demanding that chauffeurs of government cars follow traffic rules.