Jaipur: Officials start removing 'lal batti' from vehicles

In line with the directives of Supreme Court, several elected representatives and senior administrative officials on Thursday removed the red beacon from their official vehicles. Mayor Jyoti Khandelwal and deputy mayor Manish Pareek removed the lal batti from their vehicles on Thursday. The mayor said that she has not received any official order but did it [removed the beacon] on her own because respecting SC directive is the duty of all citizens. “Being the first citizen of the city I removed the red beacon myself. I did not get any official order. Respecting SC order is my duty,” said Khandelwal. Meanwhile Manish Pareek said that he had started using his private car before the code of conduct was announced in the state.

Other than those holding Constitution posts, several elected representatives and administrative and police officials also removed the red beacon from their vehicles on Thursday. Dungarpur collector Vikaram Singh and SP Prassan Kumar Kahmesera also removed the red beacons from their vechicles.

Earlier SC in a key verdict had directed that red non-flashing beacon lights be used only by Constitutional authorities. The SC also asked Central and state governments to come out with a list of authorities entitled to use the red beacon on their vehicles.