People use laal batti to break the law & escape penalty: ex-home secretary

In a Q&A, Gopal Krishna Pillai says the beacon ban is symbolic, but its impact remains to be seen

On April 19, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced at a press conference that red and blue beacon lights will be banned on all VIP vehicles from May 1. The only exception to this rule will be beacons on emergency vehicles. The same evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted in support of this ban, calling “every Indian a VIP”. Gopal Krishna Pillai, former home secretary of India, tells Manavi Kapur that this is a symbolic gesture, and its consequences remain to be seen. Edited Excerpts:
 
Is abolishing red beacons on official vehicles mere tokenism?
It’s a symbolic gesture that is trying to say that we don’t want privileges. But it remains to be seen how this will pan out. This is a first in a number of steps. Certain element of security is required and there the red beacon does not matter. How much of this VIP security machinery will be used throughout the country and across department is what matters. Even if, for instance, ministers give up security, we have to make sure they don’t get stuck in traffic. For example, when P Chidambaram chose to give up his security escort vehicle, the police still had to ensure his vehicle got green lights throughout the route.

But people are largely looking to break queues and circumvent the law without being penalised when they use the laal batti. And why just the beacons? Why should the Parliament canteen be subsidised? These privileges need to be cut down. That mentality needs to change.

 
These beacon lights also cause chaos on the streets when traffic is blocked for VIP movement. How will this move help that problem?
This is primarily a question of traffic management and there needs to be prior knowledge and awareness about VIP routes and traffic blockages. For this, the VIPs, too, need to be told to be punctual and there needs to be an element of discipline on the part of both the public and VIPs. For smooth traffic, it requires pre-planning a VIP’s schedule, which also entails mental discipline. If you have committed to be a chief guest for an event at 10 am, why should you be late? If you have a busy schedule, then don’t accept invitations. And once you have, treat it as priority. It will take time for the mindset to change.

While security is vital, it can be done with minimum disruption. Besides, these privileges, especially the large convoys, should not be in place for everyone. One can understand these in the case of the Prime Minister or the President, but the public begins to object when chief ministers or even bureaucrats enjoy these privileges. People are encouraged to follow rules if they see VIPs doing the same. If a cabinet minister waits for his turn in the queue, it will trickle down to the bureaucrats and eventually to the common man.  
 
Are there guidelines associated with the use of beacon lights?

These guidelines are bound to change with these new rules in place. For instance, the escort car should not block traffic or jump red lights. Personal security officers should not be waving down at traffic. If they continue breaking traffic rules, it undermines this issue of banning red beacons. Some people write “army” or “police” on their cars. This is to tell the authorities that he or she is a privileged person and must not be penalised while breaking the law. This is the attitude that needs to go away.
 
Internationally, what are the norms followed for VIP security and traffic movement?

Most VIPs in the developed world do not have so many security vehicles. When I had travelled to Amsterdam with former prime minister Manmohan Singh, there was a seamless system for traffic management. This system does not involve blocking traffic for long durations. Two motorcycles travel in front of your vehicle and as your car reaches the highway, they block traffic for about 15-20 seconds. Traffic resumes to normal in nearly no time and there’s very little inconvenience caused to anyone.
 
Do you think this will help the situation in smaller Indian cities where the red beacon is used as a means of intimidation?

Besides intimidation, the beacon on vehicles is used as a means to show off social status and political clout in smaller cities. This will only change when the same laws of traffic and other civic responsibilities will apply to VIPs and ministers. I am waiting for the day when the driver of a minister can be challaned for breaking traffic rules and be prosecuted according to the law.