KOCHI: Soon bureaucrats who use beacon lights and ‘Kerala State’ boards on their vehicles illegally will have to face the music, with the Motor Vehicles Department initiating a crackdown against such activities. In the ‘Operation Boss,’ which was launched on Friday, action was taken against 12 officials who were caught red-handed by the MVD for violating the law. The MVD move comes following reports that many government officials are using beacon lights and exclusive boards on their vehicles in order to gain special ‘attention.’As per the new amendment to Section-92 of the Kerala Motor Vehicles Act-1989, only ministers or those who hold equivalent positions can display ‘Kerala State’ boards on their vehicles. Vehicles of local self-government institutions, various commissions, constitutional bodies, corporations, and universities should only display the boards of their respective offices. However, the heads of such institutions can display their designation on the vehicles.
Meanwhile, companies and banks in the public domain can display boards saying, ‘A State Government Undertaking,’ or ‘A Central Government Undertaking.’