Chennai: The Madras high court directed the authorities to ensure that no digital banners or placards were put up in violation of the provisions of the City Muni­cipal Corporation Act and other relevant Acts and Rules, in the state, in a reference to  political parties and officials doing so free­ly. 

Disposing of petitions from social activist Traffic Ramaswamy, a division bench, comprising Chief Justice R. K. Agrawal and Justice M. Sathya­nara­yanan, said that the auth­or­ities should take effective steps to prevent the unauthorised digital banners, placards and hoardings from coming up and launch criminal prosecution against individuals violating the law.

The authorities were also directed to hold periodical meetings, preferably once in three months, to review the implementation of statutes, rules and regulations and orders passed by the court with regard to the putting up of digital banners, placards and hoardings.

“This court hopes and trusts that the political parties and organisations will realise the responsibility and duty they owe to the public and behave responsibly in the future,” the bench ad-
ded.

The bench said that a perusal of the Amended Acts and Rules framed there under would clearly disclose that without applying for a license, no digital banners or placards in any such form were permissible.

The various photographs enclosed in the typed set of documents would disclose the non-compliance of the previous orders passed by the court. A perusal of the status report and counter affidavit filed by the Chennai Collector and Chennai corporation would also give the impr­e­ssion that as and when the petitions were listed for hearing, they would come out with a status report defending the action taken. Compare to the magnitude of the violations, the action taken was very minimal, the bench added.

The bench said that the materials placed before the court would indicate that the officials concerned lacked will and courage to prevent such illegalities and take a defense that due to lack of personnel they were unable to do so.

It was very saddening to note that the violators, more particularly, the political parties, were vying with each other to violate the orders passed by the court and the statutory provisions with absolute impunity.

Some of the photos also disclosed that digital banners were put right across pathways and party flags were inserted on poles that were projecting onto the road, which, in turn, endangered road users, especially two-wheeler riders, the bench added, giving these directions.