Chennai: Madras high court has made it clear that no posters, banners and placards shall be erected across pavements and/or roads or abutting into pavements and/or streets in the city.
Pursuant to a letter (along with two representations made to the authorities) sent by social activist Traffic Ramaswamy to the Chief Justice of Madras high court relating to erection of illegal digital banners in the city during the 70th birth anniversary celebration of former Chief Minister late J. Jayalalithaa on February 24, the first Bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Abdul Quddhose had on March 1, initiated suo motu proceedings and directed the authorities to immediately remove all illegal digital banners and file a report before the court.
In his letter dated February 28 sent to Chief Justice of the Madras high court, Ramaswamy had said on February 24, huge banners were erected by the ruling party and BJP 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 in violation of the orders of the court. Despite his complaints relating to erection of these illegal digital banners, the police failed to take action, he had added.
In his two representations sent to various authorities including the city police commissioner and corporation commissioner, Ramaswamy had pointed out the erection of illegal banners in various places in the city and requested them to immediately remove the same and take action against the violators.
When the case came up for hearing on April 2, a status report was filed by the authorities before the first bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice A.Selvam (since retired).
After perusing the status report, the bench said, “From the status report, it appears that the offending posters and/or banners and/or placards have been removed. The proceedings are, therefore, dropped. It is, however, made clear that no posters, banners and placards, shall be erected across pavements and/or roads or abutting into pavements and/or streets.”
Paper banners and/or cloth banners tied with strings, erected across the streets for a specific occasion, should ensure that sufficient height was maintained so that they do not disturb pedestrian or vehicular traffic, including heavy vehicles, in any manner whatsoever. No poles shall be erected on pavements and/or streets for putting up such banners. No placard, banner and board should obstruct pedestrian or vehicular movement in any manner whatsoever, the bench added.
