The Kerala High Court has ordered joint secretaries of the Local Government Department (LSG) to conduct special drives to remove unauthorized hoardings, banners and flags from public spaces and fine those who installed them.
For their part, the secretaries of local bodies must also clear such materials from public spaces. Special rides must be closed within a fortnight, after which the chief secretary of the LSG department must submit a report to the court. Officials who do not comply with the order would have to appear in court online and give an explanation, Justice Devan Ramachandran said on Friday.
Amicus curiae appointed in this regard stated before the court that unauthorized hoardings, flags etc. have started reappearing at many places in Kerala including Ernakulam district. To this, the court observed that the secretaries of these local bodies who failed to fine the violators should retire from their posts. Violators include the ruling fronts at the Center and the state, who apologize that boards and similar materials were placed by migrant workers, the court said, reminding that the police should also play their role in ending the menace posed by such unauthorized materials.
Published – 06 Feb 2026 20:31 IST
