Bhubaneswar, March 7: The state government today declared the list of VIPs, who fall under the category of constitutional authorities and can use red beacons on their vehicles following a Supreme Court verdict in this regard last December.

According to a notification issued by the state commerce and transport department, 10 categories of VIPs can use red lights. While seven top categories can use it with flashers, three others have to stick to it without flashers.

The top seven categories include governor, chief minister, Chief Justice of Orissa High Court, Assembly Speaker, cabinet ministers, leader of Opposition and judges of the high court.

The three categories of constitutional authorities that cannot use flashers with their red light are Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, ministers of state and deputy ministers. However, the notification stated that officials entrusted with law and order and other emergency services would use amber light on their vehicles while on duty.

The amber light users have been restricted to eight categories.

Prior to this notification in the state, 25 categories of VIPs used red lights while 19 categories used amber beacons on their vehicles on duty.

According to the new notification, the Lokpal, advocate general, chief whip, state election commissioner, chairperson of the state human rights commission, chief secretary and the home secretary have been excluded from use of any kind of beacons on their vehicles.

The revenue divisional commissioner, district magistrate, additional district magistrate, sub-divisional magistrate and the executive magistrates now can use amber light on their vehicles instead of red lights during emergency or law-and-order duty.

Last December, the Supreme Court had given a verdict following a PIL on use of red lights by VIPs, clearly citing that those falling under the category of constitutional authorities would be allowed to use red beacons on their vehicles on duty.

The court had identified the President, Prime Minister, cabinet ministers, governors, Chief Justice of India, Supreme Court judges and the heads of both Houses and some other officials as the VIPs, who can use the red lights.

However, the top court had asked the Centre and the state governments to decide on the list of such authorities within three months.

The state government had issued a notification in September 2010 following a high court verdict in March of that year about the misuse of red lights on vehicles. Accordingly, the government removed such lights from the vehicles of 586 VIPs, who were violating the notification.

A senior official of the transport department said the decision was taken in pursuance with the order of the apex court.

“We have reduced the number of red light users and only constitutional dignitaries can use it now. These dignitaries and officials will use red and amber lights on top front of their vehicles while on duty,” said the officer.