Following the non-compliance of order issued by Punjab and Haryana High Court banning the display of designations or description of offices on both private and government vehicles in the city, the Chandigarh Administration has on Thursday written to all its senior officers to follow the instructions.

The advisory issued by Manoj Parida, Adviser to UT Administrator on Thursday stated, “No government or private vehicle will carry the word like Court, Army, Airforce, Navy, Police, Press etc.”

“No Government or private vehicle will carry the designation like chairman, vice-chairman etc. The words like government or UT Administration can be allowed to be displayed when the occupants are performing Government duties,” the order stated.

“District magistrate, Additional District Magistrate, Doctors, Ambulance, Fire-brigade can display their designation only during performance of magisterial or medical duty in emergency situation,” it further stated.

The letter has been sent to Principle Secretary, Home, Secretary Personnel, Commissioner, District Magistrate, Senior Superintendent of Police, Secretary State Transport Authority, UT Director Public Relations and UT Director Health Services to ensure compliance to the instructions.

The officers have been told that the instructions will come into immediate effect from February 6.

The Punjab and Haryana Court had on January 24 had banned display of designation and profession on private as well as Government vehicles in the tricity, and had asked the police to enforce the ban within 72 hours.

Under the order, the display of designation or description of office and unauthorised emblems on all vehicles was prohibited. Printing words like Court, Army, Press and Police and designations, such as Chairman and Vice-Chairman, was banned. Only ambulances, fire brigades, police cars and other vehicles used for rescue were exempted.

Violation of the order will invite a challan under Section 177 of the Motor Vehicles (MV) Act. Under this, the first offence entails a challan worth Rs 500 while the fine increases to Rs 1,000 for subsequent offences.

Notably, the Member of Parliament Kirron Kher had written to the UT Administration seeking an exemption to use a flag — with ‘MP’ written on it — on her car. In her letter, she had stated: “Being Member of Parliament, I have to visit various places across tricity for official and non-official works. The recognition of my vehicle must be in the knowledge of officials and general public. Therefore, I must be allowed to fly flag on my vehicle mentioning ‘MP’.”