Flex boards, hoardings, and banners continue to stand tall along the national highway and major roads here even after the High Court’s directive to crack down on illegal flex boards set up in public places.
A travel through the National Highway 66 stretch from Vyttila to Aluva recently revealed the scant regard for the court’s directive. Majority of the flex boards seen along the busy route belonged to political parties though most have been removed since.
Giving scant regard for the safety of commuters, flags of various political parties have been placed dangerously along the median on the national highway at numerous points. Most of the flags were attached to PVC pipes, which were found tottering towards the road in places such as Aluva bypass traffic signal junction, Pulinchodu, Muttam, Kalamassery, and Chalikavattam.
Many two-wheelers were caught unawares and had to change direction in a flash to avoid getting hit by these flags. Flex boards of political parties, clubs organising football tournaments, and ones set up in praise of students who scored high marks in various tests were also seen along the national highway.
The High Court had made it clear that all such illegal boards set up in public places will have to be removed within 10 days. The court had also criticised the failure of authorities in removing the illegal flex boards.
Harish Vasudevan, lawyer and amicus curiae, appointed by the court to assist it in acting against illegal boards, said the case registered at the Kalamassery police station against the erection of a flex board in violation of the directive should be an eye-opener for violators. “The Election Commission’s view that it was against flex boards and banners which were not environment-friendly was also reflected in the court’s order,” he said.