Will amendment have any effect on political banners?

With the amendment tabled in the Assembly, the powers to issue permit will now be transferred to the Chennai Corporation. Unfortunately, the corporation will now be the subject of several contempt of court petitions, unless it rids the city of  illegal banners and hoardings.

The corporation taking control of hoardings will reduce the time that it takes for an applicant to receive a permit. But, the local body must ensure that all rules are complied with before issuing the permit.

In the first week of October, the first bench of the Madras high court will have another hearing on the contempt petition that I filed on the hoardings removal issue. During the last hearing, the Chief Justice questioned the state pleader that if the authorities cannot regulate the hoardings, then it should be banned altogether, so that Chennai is free of advertising. I have also been told that the monitoring committee is not receiving the monthly reports which it is supposed to. This is once again violative of the high court directive.

Whether or not the amendment will have any effect on political banners, remains to be seen. At present, there is another contempt petition with regard to politicians putting up banners. These people get permit for say 20 banners and then put up 200 of them. The police and the authorities are all aware of it.

When the case came up for hearing, the judge asked whether the leniency of the high court with regard to political banners is being exploited. The judge also wanted to know from the prosecutor if the ruling party was supposed to be exempted from the HC’s order.

The court is also worried that despite the committee’s recommendations to file criminal cases against violators, the reports filed by authorities only reflect FIRs in few numbers. I have myself filed thousands of complaints regarding illegal banners, but it is a pity that only a few of them are reported as action taken by the authorities.

But, I hope there is a realisation on the part of officials concerned that this has to stop. If not, then I will do everything I can in my power to improve the situation.

(As told to Pradeep Kumar)