The Madras High Court has banned the use of banners and hoardings carrying portraits of living persons. Justice S Vaidyanathan in his judgment in a case has said the ruling applies even for the hoardings permitted by authorities.
The court has directed the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu to send circulars to all district collectors in the state to implement the judgment properly and to remove banners erected without due permission.
The judgment was given while hearing a case filed by a woman petitioner from Chennai, who protested against a portrait in front of her residence blocking the pathway.
The court said, to maintain a clean atmosphere and to prevent unnecessary drawing of graffiti on the walls of private and public premises, the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1959 should be strictly complied with.