The High Court of Madras has barred erection of cut-outs and banners carrying image of living persons.

The digital banner culture has taken Tamil Nadu by storm as it has become a culture among people to erect digital banners and cut-outs during birthday/anniversary celebrations, weddings as well as during political parties’ meetings and conferences. The banners/cut-outs, which are erected in grand manner, at times cause road accidents as they even hide the view of traffic signals at important intersections.

In case the banner is damaged by miscreants, complaints are lodged with the police who find such complaints silly. Trilochana Sundari of Arumbakkam, Chennai had filed a petition with the High Court of Mardas stating that she had been facing problems in commuting near her residence where plenty of digital banners and cut-outs of various parties had been erected.

Taking up Sundari’s petition which said that police didn’t act on her complaints, the High Court ruled that banners/cut-outs to be erected in future should not contain images of living persons. Chief-Secretary has been advised in this regard. The Court has also instructed the State Govt. to give wide publicity to the order by circulating it across the Districts in the State.