Take action against officials who failed to prevent illegal banners: Madras HC

Chennai: The Madras high court has directed the state government to take disciplinary action against the officials concerned, who failed to discharge their functions in preventing the illegal erection of digital banners.

A division bench comprising Justices M.Sathyanarayanan and N.Seshasayee gave the directive orally during the hearing of the contempt petition as well as on death of techie Subhasri on the road due to an AIADMK banner falling on her on September 12 at Pallikaranai.

Earlier a mention was made before the Bench to take suo motu cognizance of the incident and pass orders.

The bench said a contempt of court case relating to banners is listed for hearing today and it will take up this  matter also along with that. The bench asked the Advocate general to ask the officials both police and civic to be present in the court with relevant records in the afternoon.

Accordingly, the officials were present in the court and produced the case diary.

Additional advocate general S.R.Rajagopal said two FIRs were registered against the driver and the father of the groom, for whose function the banners were erected. The FIRs were registered under section 339, 304A and 336 of IPC.

The bench said for every function, the banners were erected in Tamil Nadu. It has become a menace. Law must be stringent. The authorities should enforce it strictly. The officials must be given free hand to enforce the law. “We need to know, how to prevent erecting of banners”, the bench added.

Advocate general Vijay Narayan said the officials of Chennai Corporation and police will conduct a mass drive and remove the existing digital banners. In future, the traffic police will take steps to prevent it.

The bench asked how many CCTVs were installed in Arterial roads and other roads.

AG said CCTVs were installed but they were connected to local areas.

The bench said “Is there any technical difficulty involved in connecting it to the police control room. You only need some finance”.

AG said he will ask the authorities to work out the feasibility of connecting the CCTV with the police control room at least in smaller areas.

The bench said it had passed several orders against erecting digital banners. There was a ban on political parties erecting banners.

Despite the same, the banners were erected. “How many officials and Ministers know the orders passed by this court”, the bench added.

The bench said hundreds and hundreds of banners were erected. What action the officials has taken?. The Principal secretary to Municipal Administration and Water Supply department has filed an affidavit stating that he has instructed all the district collectors not to allow erection of illegal digital banners and take action, if the same was noticed.

The Chief Secretary also stated that he has given instructions on the same line. But, the illegal erection of banners continues. How many disciplinary action were taken against the officials, the bench added.