Coming down on names of persons in high posts appearing on advertisements in public places like government walls, bridges, buildings, the Madras High Court today warned such persons, despite the position they hold, would face consequences as per law if their names appear on them.
The warning was given by the first bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice T S Sivagnanam when hearing a PIL by one 'Elephant' Rajendran, an advocate, on defacement of advertisements on public places.
The petitioner brought to the notice of the bench that disfigurement of public walls had increased in the last few days. He alleged that it has been done at the behest of the Municipal Commissioner whose name figures in the advertisement.
The bench then said "if it is so, really whoever it may be would have to face the consequences as per law."
The bench then impleaded all registered political parties such as BJP, BSP, CPI, CPI(M), DMDK, Congress and Nationalist Congress along with DMK, AIADMK, which were already made respondents. It also impleaded the Secretaries of Revenue, Highways, Home, Prohibition and Excise departments as respondents.
"What we are now concerned with is two aspects in view of having extended the scope of the PIL. One, defacement of natural resources and the second one is defacement of government walls, bridges, buildings, etc."
The bench then issued notice to all parties arraigned as respondents and to the newly-arraigned Secretaries.
The bench mooted the idea of handing over the task in this regard to a committee headed by Justice S Rajeswaran, which has already completed its task in connection with digital banners and unauthorized constructions.
Assistant Solicitor General Su. Srinivasan submitted that as far as disfigurement of walls was concerned, apart from provisions of Tamil Nadu Open Place (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1959, those of Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act, 1919 and Tamil Nadu District Municipalities Act, 1920 can be implemented for prosecuting offenders.
The petitioner sought a direction from the court to direct the authorities to prevent religious symbols, political graffiti and advertisements being painted on mountains, hills, avenue trees, median of roads and walls.
Graffiti on walls and public buildings is a common sight in Chennai and elsewhere in the state with political parties and other organisations violating the law with 'impunity', he submitted.
The walls in Chennai, once covered with murals, were whitewashed some years back, only to be used up for messages hailing political leaders and pasting advertisements, he said.
