Kerala High Court Questions State Over Failure to Collect Fines for Illegal Flex Boards
The Kerala High Court has criticised state authorities and local self-government bodies over their failure to penalise offenders and recover fines for illegal flags, flex boards, and banners. Reviewing a plea against visual pollution, the court stressed that the failure to implement its directives is causing the state government to lose significant revenue.
What Happened
Justice Devan Ramachandran heard the matter during proceedings concerning visual pollution caused by unauthorised flex boards, banners, and related structures. The court observed that the state is missing out on valuable revenue because authorities have not complied with judicial orders requiring a penalty of ₹5,000 on every unauthorised installation.
A notable disparity was flagged between the volume of illegal boards, flags, and installations removed and the actual quantum of penalties recovered. This mismatch emerged from submissions made by the Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam municipal corporations, alongside an affidavit submitted by the Chief Secretary of Kerala.
In response to these lapses, the court noted that responsible administrative authorities will be held accountable for levying and collecting fines according to the total count of installations removed. Additionally, the court reproached the Joint Directors of Urban Affairs for failing to submit progress reports detailing the execution of judicial directions and the clearance of illegal hoardings.
Key Highlights
- The Kerala High Court rebuked state agencies and local self-government bodies for lax enforcement against unauthorised boards, banners, and flags.
- Judicial orders specify a fine of ₹5,000 for each illegal installation, which the court observed is not being consistently recovered.
- Records from the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Kollam Corporation, and the Chief Secretary revealed discrepancies between removals and collected penalties.
- Joint Directors of Urban Affairs faced judicial censure for failing to file compliance reports regarding the removal of unauthorised hoardings.
- The court reaffirmed that civic officials will be held responsible for calculating and recovering fines based on the volume of illegal installations.
Why This Matters
The proceedings underscore ongoing enforcement gaps within civic administration regarding public space management and municipal revenue. While prior directions required Local Self-Government Institutions to dismantle illegal hoardings and prevent new ones, the failure to recover the mandated ₹5,000 penalty per violation directly impacts state revenues and weakens deterrence against visual pollution.
What to Watch Next
Following the court’s observation that authorities will be held responsible for imposing fines matched to the count of cleared installations, the relevant municipal bodies and Urban Affairs officials are expected to address the reporting lapses and submit implementation details regarding fine collection and enforcement measures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Kerala High Court hearing about?
The bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran was reviewing a plea specifically addressing visual pollution created by unauthorised banners, flex boards, and other illegal installations.
What is the mandated fine for unauthorised installations?
The High Court has previously ordered a penalty of ₹5,000 for each illegal board and installation.
Which municipal bodies were noted for discrepancies?
The court pointed out discrepancies between the number of removed installations and the collected fines in records from the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the Kollam Corporation, and an affidavit filed by the State Chief Secretary.
Source: Reported based on proceedings before the Kerala High Court as covered by The Hindu.