HC directs TN govt to be impleaded in PIL over erection of

The Madras High Court today directed the Tamil Nadu state Municipal administration department be impleaded as a respondent on a PIL seeking prosecution of district authorities of Salem over 'illegal' erection of banners by AIADMK cadres for MGR birth centenary celebrations.
The first bench, comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar, gave the direction on a PIL by social activist 'Traffic' Ramasamy and posted the matter to November 3.
Referring to the High Court orders passed in connection with erection of digital banners, the petitioner submitted that the ruling party, under the the guise of centenary celebrations of late AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran, had put up huge digital banners by digging up roads along the Salem-Coimbatore Highway via Athoor.

He alleged that the banners were erected with the help of District Superintendent of Police, Rajan and also that police were asked to provide protection to the flexboards.
No permission was granted for the erection of these banners, which was done in violation of rules, he claimed.
The petitioner said he had made a representation in this regard on October 1 to the authorities concerned, but to no avail.

Hence, he filed the PIL seeking prosecution of the officials, including the Salem District Collector, who are responsible for the erection of all these banners.
The state government has announced a six month-long celebrations of the birth centenary of AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran.

The events will culminate in a "grand celebration" scheduled in Chennai in January next year, the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) had said.