The Jharkhand government issued a notification on Wednesday banning use of different types of boards in private and commercial vehicles.

“It was clear from field visits, media reports and other sources that many private and commercial vehicles were moving with different types of boards fixed on those, creating confusion if those were special vehicles,” observed the notification, signed by state’s transport secretary K. Ravikumar, adding effective implementation of the restrictions was required for ensuring unhindered transport system and road safety.

The notification, prompted by an order of the Jharkhand High Court in a public interest litigation related to the issue, also listed which particular vehicles could use such boards.

While no vehicles would be allowed to fix any such boards on their windscreen, those used by designated persons were allowed to use such boards measuring 18 inches by 6 inches provided those do not obstruct registration plates.

The vehicles entitled for fixing such boards would be those used by the governor, chief minister, ministers, Assembly Speaker, chief justice and other High Court judges, advocate general and chairperson of human rights commission, the notification mentioned.

Among others, chief secretary and secretaries to the government, deputy commissioners and superintendents of police were also entitled to use such boards in their official vehicles as were some central government officials such as accountant general, postmaster general, chief commissioner of income tax and divisional railway managers, it added.

While such boards will be of green, red and blue colours as specified, the letters used in those could be either made of brass or written in white colour, the notification further said.

“When the designated persons would not occupy the vehicles, the drivers would ensure that the boards are covered with black covers,” the notification specified, adding the drivers would otherwise be penalised.

“While no other government vehicles would be using such boards, writing of words like Court, Army, Police, Press, Government and Administration on any vehicle would be prohibited,” the notification mentioned clearly.

“It’s a welcome decision and should be strictly enforced,” opined a media person, adding vehicles with such boards were often seen on the roads.

Otherwise, let alone functionaries of political parties and social outfits, any relative of a media person or an advocate or a policeman and even owners of printing presses could otherwise use family cars with such words prominently on those, he added.