Law to regulate digital banners in the offing: Govt

Chennai, Feb 7 (PTI) State Government today submittedbefore the Madras High Court that a bill to regulate digitalbanners in the city was awaiting the Governor''s assent.

The Government was responding to a contempt petitionfiled by K R Ramaswamy, a social worker, who sought punishmentfor officials for allegedly not following a directive from thecourt on Jan 29, 2010 regarding the erection of unauthoriseddigital banners and hoardings.

The court had then directed authorities to not only toremove unauthorised hoardings but also ensure no suchhoardings or digital banners were erected in places where thepublic have access and prosecute those who indulged in suchacts.

The petitioner submitted that digital banners are stillbeing erected across the foot path or road obstructing themovement of pedestrians, contrary to the court''s orders.

When the matter came up for hearing before a DivisionBench comprising Justices D Murugesan and S Nagamuthu,Assistant Advocate General P Wilson submitted that a bill toregulate the digital banners has been passed by the Assemblyand sent to the Governor for his nod.

The Bench said the petitioner was always at liberty toapproach the court if there was delay in the Bill beingenacted and consequently action was not taken to preventsetting up of such digital banners along roadsides.