Erecting of political parties and caste-based cut- outs, banners, hoardings and wall paintings have been prohibited in the rural areas for next two months by the district administration.
Passing an order under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, P. Parthiban, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (South) in Villianur, said it had been brought to him by Station House Officers of his jurisdiction that various political parties, caste-based organisations and other individual groups had been erecting cut-outs, banners, hoardings and wall paintings at public places and important junctions with portraits of political leaders during celebrations of birthdays, marriage functions and also installed their party flag posts at public places without getting approval from the competent authority.
In his order, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate said: “The sympathisers of one particular community are frequently having quarrel with people from another community when they erect banners at public places and important junctions. This creates enmity, hatred and ill-feeling among communities.”
ADVERTISEMENT
He added on a few occasions, there were instances of communal clash between different communities over the removal of banners, defacement of wall paintings which, in turn, even led to law and order problems that affected the normal life of the public.
The traders, petty shop owners and other general merchants have also been facing lot of hardship due to such unwanted structures in their business place.
“I am convinced that such activities will endanger public peace and it is also a threat to public tranquillity in the region and surrounding areas. Therefore removal/disfigurement of such banners, cut-outs, hoarding and wall paintings from the public places has become indispensable in view of maintaining peace and tranquillity in the locality,” added Mr. Parthiban.
ADVERTISEMENT