HC closes PIL seeking to remove 500 flexboards welcoming CM

The Madras High Court bench today closed a PIL seeking to remove about 500 flexboards put up across this city to welcome Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, which eulogised her for getting the height of the Mullaperiyar dam increased to 142 feet.
The bench, comprising Justices M Jaichandran and R Mahadevan, closed the PIL after Additional Advocate General Chellapandian submitted that there were no unauthorised flexboards and if there were any unauthorised ones, these would be removed.
Petitioner A Palanichamy submitted flexboards had been put up on roadsides, causing hindrance to traffic and violating the Tamil Nadu Public Places (Prevention of Digfigurement) Act, 1959.

He alleged most of the boards had been put up by AIADMK cadres, who were celebrating the felicitation function under the pretext of farmers' association without getting written permission from the authorities.
If they were not removed, the general public would be in trouble due to traffic jam, he said.
The Supreme Court had on May 7 held that the 120-year-old Mullaperiyar dam was safe and allowed Tamil Nadu government to raise the water level to 142 feet initially and ultimately to 152 feet after completion of strengthening measures on the dam.
On July 9, Jayalalithaa had in a statement asserted it was due to the "efficient government" headed by her that Tamil Nadu got justice in the case involving Kerala in the apex court.