After finding that recent reminder for use of national flags and beacon light on vehicles had fallen on deaf years of VVIPs, the Himachal Government on Wednesday issued another circular reminding the Ministers, chief parliamentary secretaries and chairmen of different boards not to misuse them.
This is the second time in past three weeks, that Government had to issue circular reminding the Ministers, chief parliamentary secretaries, chairmen and vice-chairmen of various boards and corporation about the misuse of flags and red and blue beacons on official vehicles. Additional chief secretary (home) Partho Mitra also looking after the charge of chief secretary issued a circular on misuse of national flag, emblem and unauthorised use of red and blue beacons by private and official vehicles of VVIPs.
In the circular, Mitra once again requested all the entitled persons to abide by flag code of the country. The latest circular said that certain unconfirmed reports have been received which suggested that in the recent past unauthorised display of national flags state emblem, red and blue beacons have taken place.
Circular has been issued to the private secretaries of ministers, chief parliamentary secretaries, chairmen and vice chairmen of different boards and corporations. Sources said that complaint was received that a chairman having a cabinet rank was “misusing” the tricolor on his official and private vehicle. Earlier, in the third week of last month a general circular was issued reminding the VVIPS on use of beacon and flags but this time the issued circular is more specific as no action was taken on the last reminder.
There have been also reports that persons having close connections with Chief Minister and Ministers were also using red and blue beacons on top of their private vehicles to showcase their status symbol in unauthorised manner. Among the entitled lot of VVIPs who can avail flags and beacon lights include Governor, Chief Minister, Cabinet Ministers, chief parliamentary and parliamentary secretaries, State chief secretary, additional chief secretary, information commissioners, commissioners, director general of police, principal secretary, commissioner and others.