High Court intervention
Crackdown on Illegal Hoardings in Tamil Nadu: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has ordered the Tamil Nadu government to ensure strict removal of illegal hoardings, arches, banners, and flex-boards. The directive comes as a measure to protect citizens’ right to safety and free movement.
Accountability of officials
The court made it clear that police officials, the Revenue Department, and local bodies will be held responsible if these structures remain. It warned that non-compliance would amount to dereliction of duty and negligence.
Public safety concerns
Illegal hoardings often block pedestrian paths and obstruct drivers’ vision, causing accidents and fatalities. The court stressed that such practices violate basic rights of people to move safely on roads and public spaces.
Previous incidents in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu has witnessed several accidents linked to collapsing banners and flex-boards, including the 2019 Chennai incident where a young woman died after being hit by a falling hoarding. Such tragedies triggered strong judicial scrutiny.
Static GK fact: The Madras High Court was established in 1862, making it one of the three oldest High Courts in India alongside Bombay and Calcutta.
Legal provisions in place
The order refers to existing municipal and police regulations that prohibit hoardings without official permission. Unauthorized structures not only pose safety risks but also violate urban governance laws.
Static GK tip: The Tamil Nadu Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1959, prohibits the defacement of public places with posters and banners without permission.
Administrative responsibility
The Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu has been instructed to coordinate removal drives across districts. Officials at every level are required to submit compliance reports, ensuring accountability in governance.
Wider significance
This order reinforces the principle that public interest overrides political or commercial promotion. It highlights the responsibility of state machinery to uphold citizens’ rights over vested interests.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
Crackdown on Illegal Hoardings in Tamil Nadu:
| Topic | Detail |
| Court Bench | Madurai Bench of Madras High Court |
| State concerned | Tamil Nadu |
| Structures banned | Hoardings, arches, banners, flex-boards |
| Key departments | Police, Revenue Department, Local bodies |
| Core issue | Public safety and obstruction of movement |
| Warning by Court | Failure equals dereliction of duty |
| Previous incident | 2019 Chennai hoarding death case |
| Oldest High Court fact | Madras High Court established in 1862 |
| Legal reference | Tamil Nadu Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1959 |
| Responsibility | Chief Secretary to monitor removal drive |
