M A I N   N E W S

Denied red beacons, fuming J-K lawmakers create ruckus
Tribune News Service

Legislators disrupt Assembly proceedings in Jammu on Tuesday. Tribune photo

Jammu, February 25
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed pandemonium on Tuesday as legislators across party lines protested the approval of use of red beacons on vehicles of Cabinet ministers and public servants while they were denied the privilege, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House.

The legislators argued they held Constitutional posts and were entitled to have red beacons on their official vehicles, but the state Cabinet had denied them the privilege. However, public servants, who came after them in the protocol list enshrined under the Warrant of Precedence, were permitted to use a red light on their vehicles, they said. The state Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had on Monday approved the use of red beacons and flashers on vehicles of the Governor, Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, Chief Justice, Cabinet ministers, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly, Chief Secretary, Advocate General, DGP and other dignitaries.

Soon after the House assembled, all members from the Opposition benches were on their toes and opposed the Cabinet decision on use of red beacons on vehicles of VIPs and public servants. The legislators questioned that if the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, who came after them in the protocol list under Warrant of Precedence, were permitted to use a red light on their vehicles, why could they not have the same right.

United they stand Legislators protested over the approval of use of red beacons for public servants while they were denied the privilege They argued public servants came after them in the protocol list under Warrant of Precedence MLAs from the treasury benches joined the Opposition in criticising the government’s fresh guidelines forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House

The SC had ordered states to trim their lists of red beacon users and that is exactly what the JK Cabinet did... To protest for the right to use one is tragic and laughable. — Omar Abdullah, J-K CM

In an embarrassment to the government, MLAs from the treasury benches too joined the vociferous Opposition in criticising the government move. The Speaker, in a bid to restore order in the House, said the decision was in accordance with the Supreme Court’s 2013 order that limited the use of red beacons to high dignitaries holding constitutional posts.

On the Speaker’s directions, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar said the decision was in line with the Supreme Court ruling and even CM Omar Abdullah had removed the beacon light from his official vehicle.

Later, after Zero Hour, Congress and National Conference legislators raised the issue and demanded red lights on their official vehicles. Pandemonium broke out in the House when Opposition members vociferously opposed beacons on vehicles of the Chief Secretary, DGP and Advocate General.

Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather said the government had no intention to hurt the dignity of legislators and the decision was taken as it was mandatory to implement the Supreme Court order within a stipulated period. “You can challenge the order in court. The red beacon for the Chief Secretary’s vehicle was approved on the pattern of the Centre’s decision allowing a beacon for the Cabinet Secretary,” Rather said.

Amid uproar and chaos prevailing in the House, Speaker Gul adjourned the Assembly. The House resumed business after 46 minutes.