The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday ordered notice to the State on a public interest litigation petition that sought a direction to authorities to conduct a detailed inquiry with regard to unauthorised flagpoles and flex boards across the southern districts, and remove them as per rules.
A Division Bench of Justices G. Jayachandran and K.K. Ramakrishnan was hearing the petition filed by P. Radhakrishnan of Ilayangudi in Sivaganga district, who complained that functionaries of political parties and communal outfits were erecting unauthorised flex boards, banners, and boards on public thoroughfares and footpaths.
These structures were illegally placed on government poramboke lands, State highways, village roads and public utilities such as overhead tanks, electric poles, and bridges. Such displays caused immense hardship to traffic and public movement and frequently led to communal clashes and law and order breakdowns, he said.
To regulate such installations the government had framed the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Rules, 2011, and the Tamil Nadu Open Places Regulation of Pasting Posters and Fixing of Thatty Boards Rules, 1995, which required no objection certificates and prior permissions from the authorities, he said.
Despite the rules, political parties and communal organisations regularly installed arches and permanent structures on public road margins and footpaths without legal permission, he said.
He sought a direction to the authorities to conduct a detailed inquiry with regard to unauthorised flagpoles, flex boards, permanent fixtures and inscriptions, depicting communal and political leaders or messages on public thoroughfares, footpaths, road margins, and public or private places across the southern districts and remove them as per rules.
Published – February 09, 2026 08:28 pm IST
