And now, let's read what the Supreme Court said in its December 11, 2013 ruling:
-- The apex court has said red beacon lights on vehicles can only be used by people listed as "high dignitaries", that too only when they are on duty.
-- A bench of Justices G S Singhvi and C Nagappan said, red beacons and multi-toned horns are reflective of "Raj mentality" and "an antithesis of the concept of a republic" and their use has to be confined to constitutional authorities and others who require these for effective discharge of their official duties.
-- The term "high dignitaries" has not been defined under motor vehicle laws. The Central and state governments issue notifications periodically to specify those listed under this category.
-- While the Supreme Court's order aims to limit this list, the appropriate governments are authorised, under law, to take the final decision.
-- "The use of red lights on the vehicles carrying the holders of constitutional posts will in no manner compromise with the dignity of other citizens and individuals or embolden them to think that they are superior to other people, more so, because this distinction would be available to them only while on duty and would be co-terminus with their tenure," the SC ruling says.
-- Urging the parliament to make laws for imposition of "adequate" and "deterrent" penalty for any misuse, the bench ordered the state governments to revise their lists of "high dignitaries".
-- The state governments have been given three months to submit their revised lists. The court also gave one month for removing multi-toned horns on vehicles.
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