[Bharat Jodo Yatra] Political party acting with impunity, holding roads to ransom: Kerala High Court on illegal banners, flags

The Kerala High Court on Thursday strongly condemned the litter and posters left behind on the roads in Kerala in the wake of the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Indian National Congress leader Rahul Gandhi [St. Stephen's Malankara Catholic Church Kattanam Village v State of Kerala ].Justice Devan Ramachandran made the observation during an urgent hearing it had convened at the request of advocate Harish Vasudevan who filed a report to show that boards, banners, flags, etc., were erected on the sides of roads and highways, directly violating the orders of the Court and putting citizens at risk of accidents..Justice Ramachandran remarked that the political party concerned seems to be holding the roads to ransom, in spite of officials having being empowered by government circulars and court orders to take action to prevent such blockage of roads.“Some political party is making a march that is taking the entire road to ransom. Why should the court keep on ordering, why can’t the officers act? All this waste is generated, where do we dump all this? I was informed by Harish that, the roads were filled with installations of the boards, posters, and banners of Bharat Jodo Yatra,” he orally remarked..In its order passed today, the Court minced no words in pulling up the "thoughtless actions" of political parties and the indifference of official authorities."The angst of this Court is exacerbated because mainline political parties appeared to be engaging in such illegal actions. These are the entities to which the citizens of this Court look up for direction, particularly in our quest for creating a better and a new Kerala. Large sums have been expended for the purpose of creating modern environment, good roads, pedestrian spaces, recreational spaces etc., but such areas are now being taken up by such illegal installations, by persons who believe that they can act with impunity. The thoughtless actions of a few and the indifference shown to it by the official authorities cannot, however, deter this Court from its resolve of making Kerala a safer place," the Court said in its order..The Court also pointed out that the installations pose grave danger to motorists and pedestrians and lamented the incident of an arch falling on a woman and child.“The lady complying with all the law has been injured. A citizen complying law has been injured and the citizen violating the law has benefited. We have to change; The Kerala has to become a new Kerala,” he orally observed..Another issue noted by the Court was that of the waste generated while disposing of the installations and that it has become incapable of being disposed of by the local self-government or by any competent authority.It also noted that its previous orders had made it clear that all posters and banners put up by an advertising agency or printer without its name or address embedded on it is illegal and that necessary action against them should also be taken..The Court ordered the State government to respond to the issues raised in the hearing, particularly as to how illegal installations have been put up and why they have not been removed.The matter will be taken up again tomorrow..[Read Order]