Court bans hoardings on roadside trees

Kochi: Kerala High Court on Monday banned exhibiting hoardings or advertisements on trees along the road sides and public places in the state.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice A.M. Shaffique passed the order while considering a letter sent by students of St. Augustine's Girls’ Higher Secondary School, Muvattupuzha.
        
They  told the court that the government circular permitting exhibition of hoardings and advertisements on tress on roadsides and public places should be quashed.

The court  observed that when trees are to be protected, the local authorities or the statutory authorities should not be permitted to erect any hoardings or advertisements on them.

The court also directed the state government to give clear instructions to the local self-government institutions and other authorities to prevent the misuse of trees by permitting exhibition of publicity material.

The court suo motu initiated proceedings on the letter sent by the students treating it as public interest litigation. The students also captured several pictures of the anti-environmental activities and produced them before the court.

They  submitted that the practice was prevalent all over the state and that their attempts to stop it  by involving a few environment organisations had proved futile.