CIC stops using red beacon

Team Herald

PANJIM: Transport department directed Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) to stop using the red beacon on his official vehicle as this was in violation of Supreme Court guidelines.

Officials of the Transport Department had last month booked and issued a challan to CIC Prashant Tendulkar for illegally using a red beacon on his official vehicle.

In reply to the show cause notice, Tendulkar tried to justify his using the red beacon by claiming that he was equivalent in rank with a Supreme Court Judge. The Transport department did not accept the reply and told the CIC that he does not figure in the list of dignitaries notified by the government eligible to use the red beacon.  

The Transport department swung into action following a complaint filed by Advocate Aires Rodrigues against Tendulkar for illegally using a red beacon on his official vehicle.

Meanwhile, sources said the CIC stopped using the red beacon after the Transport department directive. Advocate Rodrigues said the Lal Batti yatra scheduled to be held on March 14 to protest the illegal use of the red beacon by Tendulkar stands cancelled.