Thiruvananthapuram Mar 20 PTI An all party meeting headed by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday decided that while political parties as well as religious and cultural organisations should not be denied the opportunity to campaign flags and advertisements in relation to their events should not obstruct traffic or pedestrians The all party meeting which was also attended by Leader of Opposition in the state assembly V D Satheesan state Law Minister P Rajeev and various other parties leaders was held in the wake of several orders of the Kerala High Court against putting up of flag poles on pavements and roadsides without permission by political and other organisations In the meeting all the parties were of the view that political parties as well as religious and cultural organizations should not be denied the opportunity to campaign or conduct their events while at the same time flags and advertisements should not be put up in public places in a manner that would obstruct vehicular and pedestrian traffic a release from the Chief Ministers Office CMO said It was decided that flag poles can be put up in private walls or compounds with the permission of the owners and without affecting traffic the release said In public areas like footpaths flag poles may be erected for conventions and festivals with the permission of the authorities concerned and without obstructing pedestrians right of way the parties decided in the meeting They also decided that it should be specified in advance as to how many days the flag poles would be present and when they would be removed after the event concludes the release said The parties directed the Advocate General to inform the High Court of the decisions taken in the meeting as the opinion of the public it said The high courts orders against installation of illegal flag poles came on a plea by a cooperative society which has alleged that a particular political party was illegally putting up flags and banners on its land On November 1 last year the court passed an interim order directing that no illegal flag poles or masts be put up in the state while the issue was being examined by it It had on November 15 last year given 10 days time for people to remove the illegal flag poles and on November 25 2021 it directed the government to invoke provisions of Land Conservancy Act against all flag masts numbering 42337 in the State Subsequently in December last year the court had directed all District Collectors in the state to take action under the Land Conservancy Act against the illegal flag masts PTI HMP ROH ROH
Kochi Dec 20 PTI No one is above the law not even those in power the Kerala High Court said on Monday while directing the state government to take action against those who erect illegal flag poles irrespective of their affiliations No matter how high a person you are the law is above you Justice Devan Ramachandran said and added that people in power who understand the laws and the government should be held more accountable The observations by the court came after it found violation of its order not to erect any more flag poles illegally in Kerala by the ruling party in the state I am not concerned by the colour of the flag here it is red This is a blatant violation We can understand if common people or those not in power or those in the opposition do this But should those in power do this the judge asked the state government The judge also said that there were attempts by some people to tie him with a particular party or term him as a sanghi and added that neither he nor the high court can be cowed down by such attempts The court was hearing a matter related to encroachment of public land In another matter where a cooperative society has alleged that a particular political party was illegally putting up flags and banners on its land the court was told by the state government that action was being taken by some District Collectors DCs against illegal flag poles in the state and others will also do so The state sought more time to place on record the action taken by all the DCs The court subsequently listed the matter for hearing in January next year and directed all DCs to act as per its orders in its true spirit and without looking at the background or affiliation of the perpetrators or entity What is illegal should be treated as such the court said The court had previously directed all DCs in the state to take action under the Land Conservancy Act against the illegal flag masts On November 15 the court had given 10 days time for people to remove the illegal flag poles On November 25 it directed the government to invoke provisions of Land Conservancy Act against all flag masts numbering 42337 in the State The court had said that if any new flag masts are erected illegally and not removed by the competent authorities the latter would have to face the consequences mandated under the law On November 1 the court passed an interim order directing that no illegal flag poles or masts be put up while the issue was being examined by it PTI HMP BN BN
Kochi Nov 25 PTI With the 10 days given by it for voluntary removal of illegal flag masts erected across the state coming to an end the Kerala High Court on Thursday directed the government to invoke provisions of Land Conservancy Act against all flag poles -- which number 42337 -- in Kerala The high court on November 15 had given 10 days time to those who have put up flag poles in the state to remove the same on their own before any action is initiated by the government or its authorities On Thursday the state government told Justice Devan Ramachandran that it had given wide publicity to the courts November 15 order and the authorities have ensured that no new flag masts were erected since then The court said that if the stand of the government -- represented by senior government pleader S Kannan -- was accurate then all the flag masts in the state will prima facie have to be made subject to the Land Conservancy Act and consequent prosecution and imposition of penalties provided under it have to be invoked and pursued It said that since the time frame given by it is over it has to be assumed and presumed that people are aware about the law and the consequences for the violation of the same The court also said that if any new flag masts are erected illegally and not removed by the competent authorities the latter will have to face the consequences mandated under the law It is high time we understand we are governed by the rule of law The court gave everyone one opportunity to remove the flag masts on their own If no one intends to remove them they will have to be removed as per the Land Conservancy Act and penalties as provided under it should be imposed Justice Ramachandran said Let these people show they erected it with proper permissions the court added On November 15 the court was alarmed and amazed by the mind-boggling figure of 42337 flag poles existing across the state and had told the Left government to take action under every applicable law against the perpetrators irrespective of political affiliations No more illegal flag poles the high court had added It had on November 1 passed an interim order directing that no illegal flag poles or masts be put up in the state while the issue was being examined by it Lawlessness is how the high court earlier termed the installation of illegal flag masts across the state by political parties their affiliates and trade unions The court was hearing a plea by a cooperative society alleging that a particular political party was illegally putting up flags and banners on its land PTI HMP SS SS
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