Violations everywhere in erecting banners: Madras high court's Chief Justice

CHENNAI: Pointing out that there was every violation in the matter of erection of digital banners in the city, the Madras high court directed the authorities to immediately remove all the illegal digital banners and file a report before the court on March 5.

Pursuant to a letter sent by social activist Traffic Ramaswamy to the Chief Justice of the Madras high court relating to erection of illegal digital banners in the city during the 70th birth anniversary celebration of former Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa on February 24, the First Bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Abdul Quddhose initiated suo motu proceedings and gave the above directive.

When the matter was taken up for hearing on Thursday, Chief Justice Indira Banerjee orally said, “When I was on the way to airport, I had noticed the huge banners on the pavements and on the road side. It is contrary to the order of the high court. What the Corporation and police authorities are doing? Everywhere there is violation”. In his letter dated February 28 sent to Chief Justice of the Madras high court, Ramaswamy said that on February 24 huge banners were erected by the ruling party and the BJP party during the 70th birth anniversary celebration of Jayalalithaa, near Kalaivanar Arangam, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi also participated. 

The banners were erected without any permission and violating the orders of the court. Despite his complaints relating to erection of these illegal digital banners, the police failed to take action, he added.  In two representations he sent to various authorities including the city police commissioner and Corporation commissioner, Ramaswamy pointed out erection of illegal banners in various places in the city and requested them to immediately remove the same and take action against the violators.