The High Court has on Monday directed the Governments of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to file counter affidavits on how statues and arches were being permitted on roads leading to shrinking of the carriage space.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Kalyan Jyoti Sen Gupta and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar did not appreciate the way in which the statues of all leaders are occupying public roads.
It was dealing with a writ petition filed by S. Murali Krishna of Prakasam district. The court was told that Mukthinuthalapadu and Tovvgunta gram panchayats were installing statues on a 15-feet-road leading to a National Highway and that the narrow lane was being occupied by statues and the local authorities were not taking action.
The bench felt that though the case was filed about one village, it had got wider ramifications and directed both the governments to file their counter affidavits and wanted the officers to implement the rules strictly.
The bench said that statues of national leaders like Mahatma Gandhi could be erected but nowadays photographs, arches and statues hailing everyone were being constructed on roads endangering the public.
The bench said that this needs urgent attention and adjourned the case to December 26 for further hearing.
