A recent order of the Madras High Court, passed on August 29 by a two-judge division bench, directs the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to issue circulars to toll plazas on all national highways to create exclusive separate lanes for VIPs. The judges have cautioned that any violation of the circular will be viewed seriously. As a result, the a am aadmi’s queue and wait at toll plazas will get a little longer, since one of the existing toll lanes would now have to be dedicated to serve the VIPs. Implied perhaps is the assumption that their time is more valuable, which can be put to better use than in waiting at the toll gates and being obligated to show their IDs before being allowed to pass without paying the toll.

The order observes that it is “embarrassing” for VIPs and sitting judges to have to wait at toll plazas and display identity documents: “It is disheartening to note that the vehicles of VIPs and sitting judges are stopped at toll plazas... It is very unfortunate that sitting judges are also compelled to wait at the toll plazas for 10-15 minutes... Serious note should be taken throughout the country to provide separate lanes (at toll plazas) for vehicles of VIPs including sitting judges,” they have said. “A circular may be issued to each toll collector to provide a separate lane for VIPs’ and sitting judges’ vehicles. Toll collectors should ensure that no vehicle other than those of VIPs and sitting judges should be allowed to use these special lanes. Any violation of the order by NHAI will be viewed seriously.”

Possibly anticipating some defiance to their order, the bench has further warned, “People maintaining toll plazas shall not indulge in controversy (regarding) VIPs’ and sitting judges’ vehicles without understanding the ramifications.”

Disregards equality

The order disregards “equality before law” for all citizens as embedded in the Constitution. By no stretch of imagination can “equality”, however interpreted, be extended to confer special privileges for a select group of people. It is also unclear what is meant by term “sitting judges” — would they include High Court judges only, or the judges of District and Sessions courts, Lok Adalat and Family Courts as well? It is also equally unclear who will be included in the category of VIPs. The order goes against the spirit of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.

Privileges and preferential treatments have always been the defining characteristics of Indian society. The lal batti that defines VIP culture refuses to die.

The author is a retired civil servant.

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