Madras HC bans use of living persons’ pictures on banners, hoardings in TN

Sureshkumar| TNN | Oct 24, 2017, 15:50 IST





CHENNAI: In a blanket order, the Madras high court on Tuesday banned use of pictures of living persons on banners and hoardings, even if due permission is obtained for erecting them.

"In order to maintain a clean atmosphere in the state and to avoid unnecessary drawings on the walls of buildings/residential places, this court directs the chief secretary to ensure that the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1959 is complied with. If at all any permission is given by the authority concerned for erecting banners, flex boards and signboards, they shall ensure that the photographs/pictures of such persons who are alive shall not be depicted on them. It is further directed to ensure that the photographs/pictures of the persons, who are sponsoring such banners, shall also not be depicted," Justice S Vidyanathan said in his order.

The judge passed the order on a plea moved by B Thirulochana Kumari, a resident of Rani Anna Nagar, seeking a direction to the Chennai Corporation and the city commissioner of police to take appropriate steps to remove political party banners and flags put up by one Mathi blocking passage to her property.

When the plea came up for hearing, corporation authorities submitted that such banners and flags erected in front of petitioner's property had been removed and that the police would ensure that no such incident takes place in future.

Recording the submission, the judge directed the authorities to take appropriate action if the incident is repeated in future and closed the plea.