VVIP security: SC seeks Centre response on classification

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today sought response from the Centre for classifying people as VIPs and VVIPs other than constitutional functionaries for providing them security cover. A bench headed by Justice GS Singhvi said that the issue needs to be debated as police protection and use of red light beacons are being misused by them. [caption id=“attachment_661825” align=“alignleft” width=“220”]  Supreme Court of India. Reuters[/caption] “The issue requires detailed debate on the use of red lights, hooters and sirens by private individuals and so-called VIPs…If our identity emerges in these red lights, it is quite a different scenario,” the bench, also comprising justices Ranjana Desai and Kurien Joseph, observed. “We like to be enlightened about the origin of VIP and VVIP and its place in our democratic polity,” the bench said while posting the matter for hearing on 3 April. It also expressed displeasure over the sight of gun-wielding security persons accompanying the VIPs in public places. “How will ordinary man live,” the bench asked, referring to the presence of armed security personnel with VIPs even in seminars and conferences. The bench was hearing a PIL filed by a Uttar Pradesh resident on misuse of red beacon. The apex court had earlier asked the Centre, all states and union territories to furnish details of expenses incurred on providing security to various categories of persons including people with criminal background and kith and kin of VVIPs. “The Centre, all State governments and Union Territories administrations shall furnish the details of total expenses in providing security to public persons and private persons other than the Constitutional functionaries such as President, Prime Minister, Vice President, Lok Sabha Speaker… and their counterparts in States and Union Territories,” the bench had said. PTI