On Wednesday, the Kerala High Court sharply criticized state authorities for ignoring the illegal installation of political hoardings and boards across Thiruvananthapuram, despite clear court orders to remove them. The case, St Stephen’s Malankara Catholic Church Kattanam Village v. State of Kerala, was being heard by Justice Devan Ramachandran, who expressed frustration at the government’s inaction, particularly since many of these hoardings were erected by those in power.
“People in governance don’t care about the law,” Justice Ramachandran remarked, voicing his dismay over the legal violations.
The Court warned that it might initiate contempt proceedings if local authorities continued to disregard previous directives to remove the illegal boards. It emphasized its firm intention to clear the city of these unlawful installations and threatened to hold officials personally responsible for recovering fines if they failed to act.
Justice Ramachandran revisited an earlier court order, which had imposed a ₹5,000 penalty for each illegal hoarding under the Kerala Municipality Rules. However, in the most recent hearing, the Court reviewed a report submitted by the Amicus Curiae, which highlighted the widespread presence of illegal boards in Thiruvananthapuram.
The Court reprimanded local authorities for their lack of action and noted that those in positions of power were setting a poor example by contributing to the problem, rather than enforcing the law. While the standing counsel for the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation claimed that many illegal installations had already been removed, the Court pointed out that the authorities seemed to take action only when violations were flagged by the judiciary, a practice it deemed “strange and unacceptable.”
The Court further observed that officials responsible for maintaining law and order appeared indifferent to the violations, which were often carried out by political parties or government departments, including the state’s public relations wing.
Justice Ramachandran requested an inspection of the city and asked for a detailed report on the illegal installations. The case is scheduled for further hearing on October 16, 2024.
Amicus Curiae Harish Vasudevan assisted the Court. Government Pleader TS Shyam Prasanth represented the State, and Standing Counsel Suman Chakravarthy appeared for the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.
