HC moots formation of separate authority to monitor hoardings

Chennai, Aug 4 (UNI) Madras High Court today mooted formation of a seperate authority to monitor regulation of hoardings in Tamil Nadu.

Before reserving its orders on a batch of petitions from Tamil Nadu Outdoor Advertising Association and others, challenging various Government orders and rules framed to regulate the hoarding trade, a division bench comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Mr Justice K Chandru felt that the authority could be headed by a retired judge and advocates in this regard.

The bench also appreciated the suggestion of B S Gnanadesigan, Counsel for the association that a seperate department must be created to streamline hoardings.

Existing rules could not be implemented fully because the officials vested with a responsiblity could not concentrate fully on the subject.

A seperate body was a must to enforce the act and the rules. It shall have seperate staff and adequate budgetory allocation.

The Association has 1500 hoardings and these hoardings are authorised.

All hoardings existed after July 23, 1998 are unauthorised hoardings.

According to the petitioner, the rules framed by the State Government in 2003 will apply only to new hoardings and not to those existing authorised hoardings.

UNI XR KVV VA HS1829