Stating that its order of January 9 on digital banners, placards and hoardings, has not been complied with, the Madras High Court on Thursday made it clear to the Tamil Nadu Government to ensure implementation of the direction. The court directed the government to file an affidavit by three weeks on the steps taken by it in the State.
The Acting Chief Justice Satish K. Agnihotri made the oral observation when the matter relating to illegal banners was raised by a social activist, ‘Traffic’ Ramasamy alias K.R. Ramasamy, came up for hearing. On Wednesday, Mr. Ramasamy, who had earlier filed a contempt petition against the authorities, said that banners had been put up on the Kamarajar Salai causing inconvenience to the public. The court had posted the matter for further hearing on Thursday. When the matter came up, the Advocate-General, A.L. Somayaji, submitted that the banners had been removed. The Acting Chief Justice, who constituted the Bench with Justice M.M. Sundresh, said that on January 9 the court had given certain directions. These had not been complied with. He said the government should file the affidavit in three weeks. “Please see it (January 9 order) is really implemented,” he said.
A perusal of the status reports and counter-affidavits of the Chennai Collector and Chennai Corporation would give an impression that whenever writ petitions were taken up for hearing, officials came up with status reports defending their action. Compared to the magnitude of the violations, the action taken was very minimal. The court had directed the officials to ensure that illegal digital banners and placards were not put up. Criminal prosecution should be launched against violators.
