‘Resign and join political parties’: Madras HC slams officials over illegal hoardings

The judges asked the officers to resign and join those political parties instead against whom they are unable to take action for erecting illegal banners.
‘Resign and join political parties’: Madras HC slams officials over illegal hoardings
‘Resign and join political parties’: Madras HC slams officials over illegal hoardings
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The Madras High Court on Tuesday came down heavily on the officials who failed to act against illegal banners in the city. As most of the violators belong to political parties, the court asked the officials to resign from their jobs and join those political parties instead.

The court was hearing a contempt plea filed by activist Traffic Ramaswamy. The petition sought stringent action against officials who failed to act against the illegal banners and hoardings erected in the city.

Hearing the case on Tuesday, a division bench consisting of Justices M Sathyanarayanan and P Rajamanickam said that action should have been taken at least against the printers of such banners for not printing the name of the applicants on the banners, said news reports. The court made these observations after perusing a report submitted by the authorities on the action initiated against illegal banners and hoardings.  

The report stated that all illegal banners erected, particularly by members of political parties, had been removed but no case was filed against any person. The report also claimed that no action was initiated against the violators since they themselves removed the banners.

“We are depressed over the unjustified reasons given by the authorities for failing to implement court orders regarding unauthorised digital banners for the past five years,” the judges said. Asking if they would remain silent if a thief who had stolen goods from them returned it back, the judges also said that the court had passed order against erection of such banners years ago and asked if no action was taken since then despite a court order and several rules on it.

The judges also slammed the authorities concerned and the police for not acting against the political parties that erect hoardings without proper permission and asked if the authorities will act only against common people and not against people in power. They then asked the authorities to resign their government jobs and join the political parties if they cannot act against the parties.

Denying the request made by the authorities to grant extension of time for submitting a response, the judges posted the matter for hearing on Wednesday.

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