The AHRC chairperson’s car without any red beacon. Telegraph picture

Guwahati, Dec. 11: The Supreme Court may have given three months’ time to restrict the use of beacons, but the “practise what you preach” motto has prompted Justice Aftab Hussain Saikia, chairperson of the Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC), to remove the red light from his official vehicles in less than 24 hours of the ruling.

Justice Saikia, who retired as Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir, was earlier Chief Justice of Sikkim. He was also a former judge of Gauhati High Court. As the commission’s chairperson, he voluntarily stopped use of red light on his official car (registration number AS-01 AG 0059) today. He also restricted use of sirens by his pilot and escort vehicles.

Justice Saikia became AHRC chairperson in December 2011.

Sources in the commission told The Telegraph that as soon as Justice Saikia entered office today, he asked his office staff to remove the light although the chairperson of a state human rights commission enjoys the same entitlement as a High Court Chief Justice.

“Justice Saikia has always believed in practising what he preaches. As a judge, he had delivered many judgments asking people to follow what is legal and so he issued the instructions before being asked by the administration to comply with the Supreme Court order,” the source said.

Justice Saikia, however, could not be contacted for comment.

The Supreme Court yesterday asked the states to stop the practice of enlarging the list of dignitaries allowing use of beacons saying their misuse reflected a “raj mentality”. The apex court order coincided with the Assam government’s decision to allow chief executive members of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council to use red lights with flasher. An official statement yesterday said other executive members of the two councils (under Sixth Schedule of the Constitution) could also use red lights without flasher within their administrative areas.

Bhaskar Dev Konwar, a civil rights lawyer, here said Justice Saikia’s voluntary initiative would be a wake-up message for VIPs who find it difficult to give up the use of beacons because they consider it a “status symbol”.

“In Assam, the list of persons entitled to use red lights is significantly long. In the light of the Supreme Court’s judgment, the state government has to prune it down to only constitutional functionaries like governor, chief minister, chief justice and judges of the high court and the Assembly Speaker. Police will have a tough time as our VIPs have become used to violating the norms,” Konwar said.

The AHRC, however, today sought replies from the state transport department asking whether its chairperson was entitled to use the beacon.