The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday banned stickers, and display of designations, professions, organizations and other such symbols on all government and non-government vehicles including vehicles of judicial officers in the tricity, (Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali). The order was made as a move to restrict the blatant and unabashed display of VIP culture.
As a necessary corollary of the order passed by a Division Bench of the High Court, stickers and other exhibits of big-wheel status, such as mentioning of words Army, Navy, press, chairman, vice-chairman, court and executive officers would have to be removed from the vehicles. Only ambulances, fire engines and other vehicles used for salvage purposes have been granted exemption.
While hearing a public interest litigation filed regarding the traffic-related issues of the tri-city, a division bench comprising of justices Rajiv Sharma and Amol Rattan Singh made it clear that implementation of the orders would begin from the High Court itself. They found it surprising that people had even pasted stickers connoting that they were related to people in position of authority, to showcase their supremacy over the others. Justice Rajiv Sharma in manifestation of the idea that charity begins at home, directed their staff members to remove any such description from his official vehicle.
