HC: Act against parties erecting flag poles on NH

Court observes that its previous rulings against encroachment of highways were not acted upon, seeks compliance report by March 25

CHENNAI: The Chief Justice of the Madras High Court (HC) directed the law enforcement agencies to take action against erring political parties illegally erecting flag poles encroaching National Highways (NH).

The first division bench comprising Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala and Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy heard the public interest litigation (PIL) seeking to take action against illegal erection of flag poles of various political parties

The counsel for the highways department submitted that on March 9 89 flag poles were removed from 45 locations. It was also submitted that there are still several flag poles that are yet to be removed from the NH.

After the submission, the bench observed that despite the court having passed several orders earlier in this regard, the encroachment by flag poles is recurring. The bench directed the law enforcement agencies to take immediate action against the political parties encroaching on NH to erect flag poles. The bench also directed the State to submit a compliance report and posted the matter to March 25 for further hearing.

The litigant R Ramalingam, an advocate from Chennai, stated that various political parties illegally encroached on the National Highways and erected flag poles, causing huge traffic congestion. Vehicular traffic was affected, including that of school vans and ambulances. The litigant also submitted that through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, it was disclosed that 40 illegal flag poles were found on NH roads in Chennai and 48 illegal poles in Kancheepuram-Ranipet region.

Considering the safety of the larger public and to prevent the loss of human lives, a representation was given to the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), however, no action has been taken, contended the litigant.