Jammu and Kashmir Police chief Ashok Prasad Wednesday removed the red light from his official vehicle and ordered beacons removed from vehicles of police officers in the state, following the Supreme Court ruling.
The apex court Tuesday said red beacons could be used only on vehicles of high constitutional dignitaries and blue or multi-coloured lights should be used only on emergency services and police vehicles.
The court's directive on the use of red beacons would be implemented in letter and spirit by Jammu and Kashmir Police, Director General of Police Prasad told reporters here.
Prasad took the lead by ordering the removal of the red beacon from his official vehicle. This was followed by all senior officers of the levels of additional directors general and inspectors general among others.
With one of the largest police forces in India, the use of red beacons on top of official and even private vehicles of police officers had become common in the state.
In the past, many police vehicles did not even display registration number plates, claiming security reasons.
It was former police chief Kuldeep Khoda who ordered that all police vehicles in the state must display proper registration number plates.
DGP Prasad, who has served most of his years in the Intelligence Bureau, is known to be a stickler for detail.
"He will go by the book whether it suits someone or not," a senior police officer said.
