The Madras High Court has banned all kinds of banners and hoardings from major traffic signals in Tamil Nadu, days after directing against the use of displaying living personalities on hoardings.

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A Division Bench of Justices MM Sundresh and M Sundar passed this order while hearing a petition filed by K Kathirmathiyon, on behalf of Coimbatore Consumer Cause alleging that the hoardings cause inconvenience to motorists and can cause accidents.

Interestingly, the court had on October 24, directed the authorities to ensure that photographs or of persons who are are not put up on banners, flex boards, or sign-boards.

The petition filed by Kathirmathiyon pointed out that several advertisements and hoardings put up in the vicinity of busy road intersections and traffic signals were in violation of the guidelines issued by the Indian Road Congress (IRC) as well as the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Licensing of Hoardings and Levy and Collection of Advertisement Tax Rules, 2003.

"No sign, signal or any other device erected for traffic guidance and/or traffic information shall obscure any other traffic sign. Further, the signs and signals shall not carry any advertisement," the petitioner said citing IRC guidelines. He was quoting the IRC response to his RTI on advertisements, which prohibited ads at or within 100 m of any road junction.

In the interest of upholding the right of way, the court has directed that the authorities ensure such advertisements and hoardings are not erected near traffic signals in the future. "The Court was of the view that compliance of the comprehensive policy framed by the IRC is mandatory. Therefore, it was ordered that the same be necessarily applied uniformly to State and National Highways. The authorities were directed not to issue any fresh permits or renew old permits for such advertisements contrary to the IRC guidelines," the order said.

However, responding to objections raised by private parties to a blanket ban, the Court allowed advertisements that had been erected after obtaining due permission from the concerned authorities to continue until the expiration of their term. The authorities were ordered to comply with the order of the Court within 12 weeks, it said.

TO AVERT MISHAPS

  • A Division Bench of Justices MM Sundresh and M Sundar passed this order on Monday  
  • The court was hearing a petition on behalf of Coimbatore Consumer Cause, alleging hoardings cause inconvenience to motorists and can cause accidents