Red beacon for RBI Governor withdrawn

In a seemingly major embarrassment for the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor D Subbarao, the Road Transport and Highways Ministry has directed the Maharashtra Government to withdraw the permission granted to him to use the red beacon atop his car. “The State Government of Maharashtra should immediately withdraw the permission for allowing the use of red beacon light on the vehicle of Governor, Reserve Bank of India,” said a letter from the Ministry earlier this month. In November last year, the Maharashtra Government granted permission to the RBI Governor to use the coveted red dome light on his vehicle. The permission came from that State Government as RBI’s central office is situated in Mumbai. The RBI Governor’s office had requested the State government to grant the status. The State Government informed the Transport Ministry here about the decision. On its part, the Transport Ministry referred the matter to the Home Ministry, which has the authority to decide the issue. Replying to the Transport Ministry’s letter, the Home Ministry, in its letter dated January 14, said, “The Governor of Reserve Bank of India has not been included in the Table of Precedence issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan.” The Home Ministry even attached a copy of the Table of Precedence dated July 26, 1979 but updated “till now” and including all amendments made so far along with its letter to the Transport Ministry.  The RBI Governor is included nowhere in the Table of Precedence, which lists 26 categories of dignitaries right from the President to joint secretaries, officers of the rank of major-general and equivalent rank.  In view of the Home Ministry’s decision in the matter, the Transport Ministry said, “The MHA has informed that the Governor of RBI has not been included in the Table of Precedence issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Therefore, the RBI Governor does not hold the rank, status and privilege equivalent to the dignitaries specified in the notification.” As a consequence, the Transport Ministry, in its letter dated February 3, asked the Maharashtra Government to withdraw the permission granted to the RBI Governor to use the red beacon on his Government vehicle with immediate effect.