Over 9,200 digital banners removed, collector tells Madras High Court

Ms E. Sundaravalli stated this in her affidavit filed before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice T.S. Sivagnanam, when the contempt petition filed by social activist Traffic Ramaswamy, which sought to punish the authorities for not complying with the order of the court relating to removal of unauthorized hoardings and digital banners, came up for hearing.

In its brief order, the bench said the second interim report of the monitoring committee has been filed along with the affidavit of the Chennai collector. Advocate general seeks further time to meet out other aspects mentioned in the earlier order, dated April 7, 2015. The April 7 order be complied with in its entirety and the further report of the committee be filed within three days prior to the next date of hearing. List the matter on September 15, 2015,” the bench added.

The committee headed by Justice S Rajeswaran, former judge of the Madras high court in its report stated that on the orders passed by the committee, the Municipal Administration and Water Supply department issued a direction to all the district collectors in the state, who in turn have forwarded their reports with regard to further action.

In her affidavit, the Chennai district collector submitted that the entire revenue machinery was involved in identification and removal of unauthorized hoards/digital banners. Erection of unauthorized hoardings/digital banners was being identified by the flying squads and there was no wilful or wanton disobedience of court orders, the collector said.