Khedkar had violated a 2017 government order that barred the use of the beacon lights by ministers, judges and government officials, which was once seen as a symbol of power and privilege.  

The outrage over Khedkar’s wrongdoing(s) – in fact, there are more allegations against her than just the misuse of beacon lights –  has once again put the spotlight on unauthorised use of beacon lights, a colonial legacy that critics say conflicts with the spirit of democracy.

Following many instances of its misuse and a public interest litigation, the Supreme Court in 2013 had asked the Centre and states to prune and limit the list of people who would be authorised to use beacon lights. 

Several states responded positively by coming up with revised lists. In years that followed chief ministers Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab took the lead in removing beacon lights from atop their vehicles. So did Union ministers such as Nitin Gadkari and Kiren Rijiju.

The Union road ministry under Gadkari brought a proposal to amend the Motor Vehicles Act, limiting the use of beacon lights for only five Constitutional authorities – the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India and Speaker of Lok Sabha.

The proposal, however, didn’t muster enough political support. Later, on May 1, 2017, the government came up with an order banning use of red beacon light by anyone, including the president and the prime minister. 

Only three categories of vehicles were exempted – vehicles engaged in duties relating to fire control, maintenance of law and order (such as police, defence and paramilitary forces) and management of natural disasters.

Justifying the move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had then tweeted: “Every Indian is special. Every Indian is a VIP.”

Yet, seven years on, the violation of the rule by Puja Khedkar, the trainee IAS posted in Pune, underscores how unauthorised use of beacon lights continues unabated, especially by politicians and officials to show off their importance and perceived VIP status.

Khedkar, a 2022-batch officer, not only mounted a red-blue beacon light atop her private Audi car, but she was also pushing for several other privileges that were above her pay grade. 

Her demands included letter pads, nameplate, separate office chamber and a dedicated staff at her call – none of which she was entitled to as a trainee IAS, the Times of India reported quoting unnamed officials in the Pune district administration.

According to news reports, officials of Pune district administration were allegedly under pressure from Khedkar’s father, who is a member of the Maharashtra Pollution Board and considered politically influential, to comply with his daughter’s requests. 

What is more intriguing is the way Khedkar made it to IAS, despite her low rank, 821. She qualified under the quota for Person With Disability-5 (Pwd-5), for which she was initially denied appointment. She subsequently filed an affidavit in court claiming to be visually impaired and mentally ill.

The court scheduled her medical examination four times between July and September 2022. But she failed to appear all four times and hence the tribunal refused to give her any relief. In 2023, however, her affidavit was reportedly presented under the Rights of Disabilities Act, 2016 and consequently her appointment was given a go-ahead.

Following the latest controversy, she was transferred to Washim, pending a detailed inquiry into the allegations against her.

Khedkar's case will perhaps go down in the Indian bureaucracy's annals as one whose sense of entitlement crossed the boundaries of even those who are part of a privileged tribe.