The discussion as to the use of red beacons by bureaucrats and politicians on the top of their cars has always sparked controversies and aroused curiosity. Whether all dignitaries are allowed to use the red beacon? Who are the privileged ones who can use the beacon? Are there any guidelines for using such red beacons?

The answer to all these questions can be found in the notification issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India in the year 2002.

As per this notification No. S.O 52(E) dated 11^th January 2002 issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, the dignitaries listed in clause (a) and clause (b) can use the red light with or without flashers respectively.

As per Clause (a) of the aforesaid notification, the following persons are entitled to use a red light with a flasher while on duty anywhere in the country:

1) President;

2) Vice President;

3) Prime Minister;

4) Former Presidents;

5) Deputy Prime Minister;

6) Chief Justice of India;

7) Speaker of the Lok Sabha;

8) Cabinet Ministers of the Union;

9) Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission;

10) Former Prime Minister;

11) Leaders of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha;

12) Judges of the Supreme Court.

As per Clause (b) of the aforesaid notification, the following dignitaries can use a red light without a flasher while on duty anywhere in the country:

1) Chief Election Commissioner;

2) Comptroller and Auditor General of India;

3) Deputy Chairman Rajya Sabha

4) Deputy Speaker, Lok Sabha

5) Ministers of the state of the Union

6) Members of the Planning Commission

7) Attorney General of India

8) Cabinet Secretary

9) Chiefs of the Staffs of the three services holding the rank of the full general or equivalent rank

10) Deputy Ministers of The Union

11) Officiating Chiefs of the Staffs of the three services holding the rank of Lt. General or equivalent rank

12) Chairman, Central Administrative tribunal

13) Chairman, Minorities Commission

14) Chairman, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission

15) Chairman, Union Public Service Commission

As per Clause (c) of the aforesaid notification, if a vehicle carries a dignitary who has been formally designated as equivalent in rank, status and in privileges to those as referred in clauses (a) he or she shall be entitled to use the red light with flasher.

If the vehicle carries a dignitary who is equivalent to the rank, status and privileges to those referred in Clause (b) he or she shall be entitled to use the red light without flashers.

Where the vehicle is carrying dignitaries who have been assigned ranks in their personal capacities by the Ministry of Home Affairs, they shall be entitled to use the red light as per their corresponding privileges i.e. with or without flashers in the manner allowed for dignitaries in clause (a) and (b).

The notification furthers makes it clear that where the vehicle is not carrying the dignitary, the red light must not be used and must be covered with a black cover.

At the same time, the state governments and the Union Territory Administration has been empowered to issue notifications in respect of the use of red lights by dignitaries in the state such as the Governor, Chief Minister, Chief Justice and High Court Judges, Chairman , Speaker and Cabinet Ministers of State and Union Territory Legislatures.

The Punjab Government was recently in the news in the month of June 2012 for issuing a notification notifying a fresh list of the dignitaries who could use the red beacon.