The Madras High Court on Monday directed the State Government to strictly follow the policy on roadside advertisements issued by the Indian Road Congress and desist from granting permission for installation of advertisement boards at traffic signal posts.
A Division Bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and M. Sundar issued the direction on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by Coimbatore Consumer Cause, a registered society represented by its secretary K. Kathirmathiyon interested in ensuring road safety.
Though the petitioner society had sought for a direction to remove all advertisement boards and banners installed at traffic signal posts across the State, the judges stopped with ordering that the licences issued so far shall not be renewed after their expiry.
Growing tendency
In his affidavit, Mr. Kathirmathiyon claimed to have filed a case in 2009 against display of advertisements on the rear windscreens of government buses and obtained a positive order.
A similar order was passed in 2012 against advertisement boards put up on medians.
“I state that despite all efforts such as the above, there has been a growing tendency on the part of commercial establishments to put up advertisements of various hues on traffic signal posts, adversely affecting road safety as the advertisements distract all road users,” he said.
The petitioner also relied upon para 9.2.8 of the policy on roadside advertisements which stated: “No sign, signal or any other device erected for traffic control, traffic guidance and/or traffic information shall obscure any other traffic sign. Further, the signs and signals shall not carry any advertisement.”
