Status report filed in HC on defacement issue

The Madras High Court was today informed that throughout the state 25896 places of defacement of government buildings, of walls and natural resources had been identified, of which up to November 15 in 23,270 places, the defacement was removed.
In a status report, the Special Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department submitted that in all 31 revenue districts, 300 notices were served on registered political parties as per the directions of the Court and a nodal officer was nominated for the removal of defacement.
The matter relates to a PIL filed by Advocate Elephant Rajendran and another contempt petition filed by Social Activist Traffic Ramaswamy seeking implementation of an order preventing defacement of public places.

The status report said a Committee of Secretaries under the Chairmanship of the Principal Secretary to Government Home, Prohibition and Excise Department was constituted to monitor the progress in removing defacement on open places vide government order dated February 26, 2016.
The Committee had held meetings four times, the last one on December 1, and taken a decision that the Revenue Administration should be updated with details of removal of defacements with photos obtained from District Collectors.
In the case of Chennai City, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Should send a compliance report containing copies of notices relating to removal of defacements.

The status report further said throughout the State up to October 30, 2016, 60 people were convicted for defacements and from November 1 to November 30, five were convicted.

Up to November 30, police had registered 464 cases registered for defacement of public places.
In the case of Chennai City, notices with regard to removal of defacements have been served on nine recognized political parties and 82 registered political parties, the report said, adding, the drive would continue.
The First bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M. Sundar, after perusing the status report posted the case for further compliance to February 10 next.