HC refuses to stay ban on use of living persons' pictures on

The Madras High Court today refused to stay its ban on the use of living persons' pictures on digital banners and hoardings, noting that it was high time to review the rules regulating them.
A division bench of justices T S Sivagnanam and K Ravichandrabaabu refused to grant any interim relief, as sought in an appeal by the Greater Chennai Corporation, challenging the October 23 order of a single-judge bench of the court, imposing the blanket ban.
The bench said a decision on the issue would be taken by the first bench, headed by Chief Justice Indira Banerjee, and adjourned the matter to December 18.

On October 23, Justice S Vaidyanathan had passed the order, banning the use of pictures of living persons on digital banners and hoardings, in an attempt to check the menace of illegal erection of such banners.
The corporation, in its appeal, had claimed that such a ban would adversely affect the advertisement industry, which primarily used pictures of models (living persons) on legally permitted digital banners and hoardings.
It had also prayed for an interim order, staying the operation of the order of the single-judge bench.

Tamil Nadu Advocate General Vijay Narayan, appearing for the corporation, pleaded to the court to at least remove the words "living persons" from the order.

The order would adversely impact the revenue of the civic body, he contended.
Refusing to accept his contentions, the bench said the time had come to review the rules regulating banners and hoardings.
The court also said in neighbouring Kerala, the frames of such banners were made of eco-friendly bamboo and that they were erected only at the time of elections.