THE CRACKDOWN by the Traffic Police on the red and blue beacons in Lucknow, after the drama enacted by five lads, tells the story of laxity on the part of the administration. Crackdown is the consequence of breakdown. The lights have been there for years. Since there was no check, the number of vehicles using the beacons with all the boldness at one’s command kept on swelling. Statistical analysis of owners and users of such vehicles would have been very revealing.
In between, there were half-hearted attempts to remove the lights, but the opposition by the high and mighty forced traffic cops to develop a cold feet. It may not be out of place to mention that administrative exercises in many cases are carried out through special drives. Hopefully, the present drive will not die and will not remain confined to the State Capital. And, it will not allow the menace to reappear.
Still more interesting is the case of plates displayed on vehicles in all shapes and colours. Do they serve any administrative purpose? It all started somewhere in the 70s with government vehicles. The argument put forward by higher quarters in the State administration was that it facilitated parking in the secretariat. By the 80s, virtually the entire state administration was seen running on the roads of Lucknow. It continues with all its metamorphosis.
Members of the bureaucracy, officials of different outfits of various political parties, MPs, MLAs, Corporators, officials/ members of Panchayati Raj institutions, student leaders of colleges/ universities fell prey to the ongoing mockery of law. The whole show has become so contagious that officials of the enforcement agency, members of the judiciary, vice-chancellors of universities and even the press have got ensnared in it. One is amused on reading ‘Former MP/ MLA or President…….. University (students union missing) on the plate. All is in Hindi. Chiefs of religious outfits (small and big) have also decided not to be left behind. What a motivation? Almost three decades have passed. It is surprising that advertising professionals have not yet jumped into the arena to make the show more catchy.
{{/usCountry}}Members of the bureaucracy, officials of different outfits of various political parties, MPs, MLAs, Corporators, officials/ members of Panchayati Raj institutions, student leaders of colleges/ universities fell prey to the ongoing mockery of law. The whole show has become so contagious that officials of the enforcement agency, members of the judiciary, vice-chancellors of universities and even the press have got ensnared in it. One is amused on reading ‘Former MP/ MLA or President…….. University (students union missing) on the plate. All is in Hindi. Chiefs of religious outfits (small and big) have also decided not to be left behind. What a motivation? Almost three decades have passed. It is surprising that advertising professionals have not yet jumped into the arena to make the show more catchy.
{{/usCountry}}But this vulgar display is not to be seen in the Government of India or in many other States. However, one does come across some private cars displaying Bharat Sarkar or Uttar Pradesh Sarkar. In UP nationalised banks also carry a plate showing Bharat Sarkar, although they are not directly a part of any department of GOI.
Beacons, hooters and designation plates are generally used as a symbol of might. Authority, necessarily, need not be displayed all the time in public. Over-display in a shabby manner erodes acceptance of authority. We are not living in a feudal order. Or are we?
Unfortunately, we have become prone to capturing every opportunity for misuse. And so we misuse authority also. To illustrate, the vehicle carrying the designation plate does not always carry the designated authority. Somebody else occupies the seat.
Now, who will bell the cat when all the sections of the state machinery are misusing it? The administration has to have moral force to handle such a situation and to handle it effectively. The epidemic has to be met with a sustained eradication programme. One should not expect the Supreme Court to take suo-moto notice and issue a directive to the State Government. This ‘show business’ is, certainly, not a sign of good governance. Instead, Rule of Law is a victim. Simply stated, it is mockery.