Chennai: Hours ahead of the grand valedictory of former Chief Minister M G Ramachandran’s (MGR) birth centenary celebrations, the Madras High Court has directed removal of hoardings erected by the ruling AIADMK members across the city.
A bench of judges Justice S Manikumar and Justice Subramonium Prasad gave the direction while hearing a public interest litigation filed by social activist ‘Traffic’ K R Ramaswamy.
Besides ordering the removal of illegal hoardings, the court has also sought a report in this regard from Greater Chennai Corporation and the city police by 8 October. The judges said while giving permission to erect hoardings, officials should follow directions issued by the court. The government’s counsel informed the judges that rules were followed and hoardings without permission were removed already.
According to reports, more than 1,800 hoardings were erected across the city for the MGR centenary celebrations to be held at the YMCA Grounds in Nandaman this evening.
Facing public ire, Chennai Corporation officials inspected all the locations where illegal banners had been erected and removed some on Saturday.
According to Ramaswamy, “More than 100 residents have submitted complaints to officials. Many hoardings have been erected in Guindy, T Nagar, Kamaraj Salai, Santhome High Road, Raja Annamalaipuram, Mylapore and Chepauk.”
Earlier on Saturday, PMK youth wing leader and former Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss wondered if the Madras High Court would pull up Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami after his party cadre put up hoardings on Anna Salai ahead of the valedictory function of MGR birth centenary celebrations.
He said 138 hoardings had been placed for more than 1.1 km on Anna Salai leading up to the YMCA Nandanam grounds.