Beacon lights : Shambolic symbolism : Mad race to VIPdom
- Sangai Express Editorial :: April 6, 2013 -

Beacon light. Screaming siren. Status symbol.

The Supreme Court did act on a petition filed by a resident from Uttar Pradesh, but the significance of its directive to the Centre and the State Governments to reduce the number of functionaries using beacon lights will not be lost on Manipur and her people too.

What are the parameters under which beacon lights are allotted to Government functionaries ? What exactly are the privileges to be enjoyed by a beacon light mounted vehicle ?

Does a beacon light amount to having the right of the way, no matter who the occupant of the vehicle is ?

In all likelihood, the Government of Manipur would be hard pressed to come out with any satisfactory answers to the posers raised here for following the prescribed procedure has never been a strength of the people running the affairs of the place.

On the other hand a bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice GS Singhvi is clear on this count. Sirens and beacon lights are to be used only on ambulance, fire services vehicle, police and the army.

How far does this specification work in Manipur ?

The answer is there to be found on any given day on the roads of Imphal.

Anyone with a bit of ingenuity and who come anywhere near the corridors of power and anyone who can wangle security escorts from the Government can and do use beacon lights and sirens. The race to VIPdom is complete.

And so it is that some private vehicles zoom around the roads of Imphal with the word MANIPUR embossed on the number plates and with the traffic cops not empowered nor trained enough to crack down on such flagrant violations of the rule of law, it is almost a free for all situation.

The result is the utter chaos and confusion that characterise all the roads of Imphal-Beacon lights cannot be seen in isolation of the traffic rules and regulations and the right of the people to free movement on the roads.

The power and authority to enforce laws and make laws becoming synonymous with the power and authority to violate laws. This has been the calling card of successive Governments in Manipur and the officialdom, especially the uniformed personnel, down the years. The directive of the Supreme Court to check the use of beacon lights must be seen in its correct perspective.

In many ways it is a rap on the knuckles of the Governments, whether at the Centre or at the provincial level. It is a sharp reminder that the right to movement of the people should not be violated.

Stretch this a little bit and it also means that the dignity and self respect of the common people should not be trampled upon. Such a description fits a place like Manipur to the T where the pride and dignity of the common people have been trampled upon routinely.

If it is not some screaming sirens ordering everyone to move and give them the right of way, then it is some personnel clad in khakis or olives, waving a lathi and barking out orders to the common people to step aside.

The directive of the Supreme Court should be seen along this line too.

Linking statuses with beacon lights and sirens would defeat the very idea of giving the free way to ambulance and fire brigade and even the police during emergency, which is all about meeting exigencies involving the lives and security of the citizens.

The mindset needs to change. Status should not be about the power to inconvenience the public but should be about the position that one holds to render service to the place and the people.

Obviously this will be too tall an order to follow for those who cannot look beyond their VIP status making it a shambolic symbol.