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Tamil Nadu Government was pulled up by the Supreme Court and was asked to explain the steps taken with regard to the defacement/disfigurement on rocks, hills, hillocks and also on public constructions, particularly slogans/messages of political nature depicting the photographs of politicians.
The order came in a Special Leave Petition filed by 'In Defence of Environment and Animals (Idea)' unsatisfied with the judgment passed by Madras High Court in this regard. The bench comprising CJI Ranjan Gogoi, Justice S. Abdul Nazeer and Justice Sanjeev Khanna has asked the state to respond within two weeks.
The Madras High Court in 2006 was approached by 'Elephant' G.Rajendran, the Managing Trustee of IDEA and seeking a direction from the Court to prevent encroachments by anybody by any means including religious symbols and political graffiti, advertisements by private parties on the natural resources like mountains, hills, hillocks, roubles, avenue trees and on the centre median of the National and State Highways.
A committee was formed to take note of grievances raised by Rajendran and also passed various orders in his writ petition by the Madras High Court. While disposing of his writ petition, the high court said that suitable action has to be taken against the persons who disfigures the walls and other natural resources like mountains, hillocks etc.
However, it had observed: "But the manner in which the petitioner making allegations against the political parties appears to be totally uncalled for. The petitioner must have self-restraint with regard to his feelings while exercising freedom of speech and expression. Making this sort of allegations would rather waste the time of this Court and would abuse the process of law. The Government also has got a better business, performing its duties as the executive machinery of the State. Wherever there is a violation of law, it is only the Court to interfere or direct to keep things in an orderly manner. Thus, orders are passed from time to time. It cannot be simply said that the Government has not taken any action as regards the complaints made by the petitioner with regard to disfigurement."
Due to lack of official staff and other machinery, it may not be possible for the State to take steps immediately, and it will take some reasonable time to carry out the exercise, the High Court had said while closing his writ petition.
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