Remove all MGR anniv banners in Kovai, government told

The first bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar while disposing a public interest litigation moved by DMK MLA, representing Singanallur assembly constituency, made it clear that all hoardings, banners, arches etc., which abut into highways, public streets and pedestrian pavements shall forthwith be removed.

In future too, no such arches, hoardings, banners etc., shall be allowed to be erected abutting into highways, public streets and/or pedestrian pavements, the bench said. It also held that holes caused on pavements and roads by reason of erection of frames, poles, structures, placards, hoardings and banners shall forthwith be repaired.

Earlier, when the PIL came up Senior Counsel P Wilson appearing on behalf of the petitioner contended that Raghupathy (32), a non-resident Indian, who came on vacation from the US, is a permanent resident of Chinniyampalayam in Singanallur.

He came to his native place about two weeks ago, to be with his parents in search of his life-partner and was about to return to United States on November 26. In the meantime, he wanted to visit Sri Dhandayudhapani Swamy in Palani and he proceeded in a two-wheeler to the local bus stand. But, he met with an accident after his two-wheeler hit against a wooden structure erected by the ruling party men for setting up a huge decorative arch on Avinashi Road.

He fell and was run over by an unidentified heavy vehicle, resulting in his immediate death. The persons, who erected the arch shall be brought to book, Wilson contended and prayed for the immediate removal of all unauthorised advertisement materials in public places.

Advocate-General Vijay Narayan told the judges that all illegal arches, hoardings and banners were being removed. However, he submitted that the accident took place because a Corporation garbage removal truck was being driven on the wrong side of the road.

However, the bench on perusing the photographs said, “It appears that the accident may have been averted but for the arches abutting into the road.” But on noting that, “Of course, this observation is not to be construed as any finding of this court with regard to the cause of the accident”, said “the fact remains that arches abutting into roads are hazardous to pedestrians and to traffic.”