Banners should not hinder pedestrians or vehicles, says Madras HC

CHENNAI: Paper banners and/or cloth banners tied with strings, erected across streets for a specific occasion, should ensure that sufficient height is maintained so that they do not disturb pedestrian or vehicular traffic, including heavy vehicles, in any manner whatsoever, the first bench of the Madras High Court has said. No pole shall be erected on pavements and/or streets for putting up such banners. No placard, banner, board, etc., should obstruct pedestrian or vehicular movement in any manner whatsoever, the bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice A Selvam, said on April 2 last.

Originally, activist `Traffic’ K R Ramaswamy on February 24 last sent letters to the authorities concerned along with copies to the High Court, to remove hoardings and banners erected on pavements and streets, which obstructed pedestrians and vehicles. This letter was treated as a PIL petition and the bench had asked for a status report.

Accordingly, the status report was filed and after going through it, the bench found that the offending posters and/or banners and/or placards had been removed. The proceedings are,  therefore, dropped, the bench said. The bench, however, made it clear that no posters, banners, placards, etc., shall be erected across pavements and/or roads or abutting into pavements and/or streets.