Salem Collector told to appear in person on Dec 13

The direction to appear in person is based on a Public Interest Litigation seeking to remove the flag post situated in front of a bus stop at Section Road and adjacent to National Highway-47 in Pulavari village, in Salem district.

A division bench comprising Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice P Rajamanickam while referring to Section 26 of the Tamil Nadu Highways Act, 2001, said, “A perusal of the said provision would prima facie indicate that the Divisional Engineer, Highways and Maintenance, Highways Division, Salem-4, has completely overlooked the said provision and within a fortnight, has accorded permission for replacing the flag mast.”

Also, noting that the photographs produced indicate that the flag mast lies very close to the Highway, so also another flag pole of a major opposition political party, to which, the petitioner is said to belong, said, “In the light of the above facts and circumstances, the Collector of Salem District and the Divisional Engineer, Highways, with relevant records as well as the counter affidavit with supporting documents as well as the petitioner shall remain personally present before this Court on December 13, 2018.”

Petitioner’s counsel A Rajakumar submitted that people living in and around the Pulavari village were using the bus stop situated in the Section Road and adjacent to NH-47 and for the convenience of the people, a resting shelter was constructed at a cost of Rs 7 lakh out of the MLA’s fund. While so, without obtaining any permission from the authorities, the AIADMK party members constructed the flagstaff, he said.