Madras High Court Demands State Action on Illegal Political Displays
The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court has formally requested a detailed response from the Tamil Nadu state government regarding a significant public interest litigation. This legal petition urgently calls for the immediate removal of all unauthorized flagpoles, flex boards, and banners depicting political and communal leaders from public pathways, footpaths, and various other locations across thirteen key districts in the state.
Judicial Bench Hears Critical Public Safety Concerns
A distinguished division bench comprising Justice G Jayachandran and Justice K K Ramakrishnan presided over the hearing of this crucial public interest litigation, which was filed by petitioner P Radhakrishnan. The petitioner presented compelling arguments highlighting how political party cadres and communal organizations are systematically erecting these unauthorized structures on government land without obtaining the necessary permissions or no-objection certificates from the concerned authorities.
The core issue revolves around these illegal installations being placed on state highways, village roads, public utilities like overhead tanks and electric poles, and even bridges. This widespread practice not only violates existing statutes and regulations but also creates substantial obstacles for both vehicular traffic and pedestrian movement, posing serious risks to public safety on a daily basis.
Widespread Violations Across Multiple Districts
According to the detailed petition, these unauthorized banners and flex boards have proliferated extensively across all southern districts of Tamil Nadu, with additional concentrations reported in Trichy, Thanjavur, Pudukottai, and Karur districts. The petitioner emphasized that despite repeated administrative instructions and government circulars explicitly prohibiting such activities, political and communal groups continue to erect arches and permanent structures on public road margins and footpaths in clear violation of the law.
"These illegal displays frequently lead to communal clashes and significant law and order issues," the petitioner stated during the proceedings. "They cause immense hardship to traffic flow and public movement, particularly when placed at critical traffic junctions, medians, and highways where they obstruct visibility and free passage."
Previous Legal Precedent and Current Demands
The petitioner referenced a previous legal action from 2022, where he had filed a similar petition seeking the removal of unauthorized structures specifically in Sivaganga district. In January of that year, the court had disposed of that petition after recording a compliance report submitted by the Sivaganga district collector. This report documented the successful removal of 1,333 unauthorized flagpoles, banners, and arches within that district alone.
Building on this precedent, the current petition argues that similar enforcement actions are now urgently required across all thirteen districts that fall under the jurisdiction of the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court. The petitioner has specifically moved the court to ensure comprehensive compliance and systematic removal of these hazardous structures throughout the entire region.
The court has taken serious note of these public safety concerns and has directed the state government to provide a formal response regarding its plans and timelines for addressing this persistent issue. This judicial intervention highlights the ongoing struggle between regulatory enforcement and the unchecked proliferation of political and communal displays in public spaces across Tamil Nadu.
