Coimbatore hoardings: DMK MLA initiates contempt against TN DGP, chief secy

CHENNAI: A DMK legislator has moved Madras high court seeking to initiate contempt proceeding against Tamil Nadu chief secretary, and director-general of police for wilfully disobeying court orders in connection with illegal digital banners erected in Coimbatore during MGR centenary celebrations.

The plea, filed by Singanallore assembly constituency legislator

N Karthik

, is likely to be taken up for hearing on Monday.

Recently Karthik filed a petition to remove illegal, unauthorised and non- permitted hoardings, arches, banners and flex-boards across Coimbatore by the cadres and office-bearers of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in view of MGR centenary celebrations held in the city on December 3.

He alleged that the illegal banners caused the death of an

NRI

software engineer, who died after being hit by one of such unauthorised scaffolding erected along a highway in the city.

On November 30, the high court observed that the erection of arches, placards and display boards, banners with poles abutting into public streets and pavements, which obstruct free and safe movement of traffic or free and safe movement of pedestrians or obstructs visibility of drivers is patently illegal and directed the authorities to immediately remove all such illegal banners.

Now, claiming that even after several reminders about the order of the high court the authorities have failed to remove the banners and initiate appropriate action against the offenders, Karthik said: "The government being a role model in implementing the orders of the court ought to have strictly complied with the directions and observations made by the high court. But, there is a total deliberate failure in complying with the order of this court and the same
amounts to contempt of court."

Both the officials who granted alleged permits to erect the banners in contravention to the direction issued by this court and the persons who erected the banners in violation of the court order shall be liable to be punished under the provisions of the Contempt of Courts Act, he added.

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