Reporter's Diary: When battle of the ballot is a lot of litter

A mere glance at the posters strewn around would reveal that they are notices offered by advocates contesting for elections to the Madras High Court Advocates Association (MHAA). 

With over 100 candidates in the fray for as many as 16 posts, the extent of litter created by these notices can be imagined. MHAA reportedly being a cash rich body and the largest at the Madras High Court, the battle with money and muscle power is rampant. In fact, winning the elections is considered prestigious, as it largely turns out to be a stepping stone to entering politics. 

However, what irks many is that despite advocates being professionals, they distribute paper notices to press for their candidature. With social media serving as an effective via media in bringing people together, it remains a surprise that precious paper continues to be wasted. Worse still, all of them end up on the road and drainage, creating another bout of environmental issues. 

The saving grace is that the advocates are not allowed to print posters or else the whole town would have ended up being painted red with posters defacing public and government walls. For now, with the elections slated to be held on November 23, the High Court campus is bound to be strewn with such campaign notices, making the cleaning staff work overtime to clear it. — D Sivarajan, Chennai