Political parties that have affixed posters on structures belonging to Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) may soon face the heat.
The agency is planning to issue a warning to the offenders. Meanwhile, notices have already been sent to 31 individuals and representatives of various organisations which have pasted posters on the structures, CMRL officials said.
For many months now, posters, advocacy materials, bills, etc are being pasted on barricades, piers, pillars and other structures of metro rail in several areas including Vadapalani, Anna Nagar, Anna Salai and Saidapet.
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So, in November, CMRL said that offenders who disfigure the structures may be punished under section 3-A and 4-A of the Tamil Nadu Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act 1959 read with sections 425, 431 and 434 of IPC with imprisonment extending up to five years or a fine which may extend to five thousand rupees or both.
“Despite the statement, defacing of the structures continues to happen. So, we tracked down the people in charge of organisations whose posters have been affixed on pillars, barricades, piers etc., and sent them notices,” said an official of CMRL.
Those who were issued notices have responded with an undertaking saying that they will not affix posters henceforth, he added.
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But if it continues to happen even after the issue of notice, CMRL may take legal action against them. There are also many obituaries found on the structures; and for that CMRL has given instructions to the local agents not to paste them.
“As far as the existing posters are concerned, CMRL workers have been periodically removing them,” the official added.