Yellow beacon lights on the vehicles of senior Government officials in Jharkhand will now be replaced with blue ones. The State Cabinet on Tuesday gave its approval to the long pending proposal of the Transport Department suggesting replacement of yellow flasher lights with blue ones. A total of 29 proposals were passed during the Cabinet meeting held at project meeting on Tuesday.
The State Government took the decision to codify the VIP culture with a new colour after the Supreme Court banned the use of red beacon light with flashers on all vehicles except those used by high dignitaries holding constitutional post way back in December 2013.
The apex court had also asked the Government to make appropriate amendments in the Motor Vehicles Act to make the fine amounts a deterrent. “A total of 16 categories of officials qualify for blue flasher lights which include – All Chief Secretaries, all departmental heads (IAS rank officials), DGP, Divisional Commissioners/ Deputy Commissioners, Additional Advocate General and Registrar General of Jharkhand High Court, Principal District Judges, Session Judges and other judges of similar rank, ADG, IG, DIG, SP, Accountant General, General Commanding Officers of Indian Army, PCCF, CCF, Commissioners of Income Tax, Central Excise and Tax, Post Master General, Director General of Mining Security, Chairpersons of all commissions formed by the state government, ADM (law and Order), Chief Judicial Magistrate and BDO, DSPs and CDPOs,” said Cabinet Secretary SS Meena.
“While officials using red flasher lights and other emergency lights used in vehicles like Ambulances, PCR vans and Fire Brigade will remain as it is,” added Meena.
The State Cabinet also approved a proposal of the Finance department for a new treasury code replacing the old treasury code of Bihar formulated in 1937.
A number of provisions of the old code have become defunct in the present times and the work of treasuries is being conducted by computers.
In order to give a practical shape to the Integrated Financial Management Information System, the blueprint of the code has been prepared with the help of a special team of World Bank.
Under the code, a Cyber treasury will be made to manage accounts of e-receipts from various tax collecting departments. The work is being done presently at Project Building Treasury. The Code will also enable e-payment to contractors, suppliers, and beneficiaries across the State. A treasury Directorate will also be set up under the provisions of the code.
In another important decision taken by the Cabinet, remaining 20 per cent of the BPl population, not covered under Food Security Act, will also be provided ration cards. According to the data available with the state government, there is around 12 lakh such population across the state which could not be covered under the Act.
The Cabinet also gave its approval to increase additional honorarium of Angawari Sevikas and Sahayikas. Additional honorarium of Angawari Sevikas has been increased from Rs 3000 to Rs 4400, while there has been an increase of Rs 350 to Rs 700 in the honorarium of Sahayikas.
The cabinet also gave its approval for creating a new post of Joint Registrar (Vigilance) in Jharkhand High Court. Nod for the creation of new post of Academic Advisor to the Governor was also given by the Cabinet on Tuesday having salary of Rs 37000 to 67000.
Approval for Prevention of Destruction and Damage to the Property Act 2016 was also given by the Cabinet. The Cabinet also gave its nod to the appointment of Fidelis Toppo as member of Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC).