Contempt plea moved against govt after mishap due to AIADMK flagpole

Even as the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has claimed that the court has banned only the erection of banners and not flagpoles, a contempt plea has been moved against the Government at the Madras high court seeking action against Coimbatore Corporation authorities and police personnel for allowing the installation of a flagpole, which ended up causing grievous injuries to a woman.

Traffic Ramaswamy who has filed several cases at the court against illegal banners, flex boards and hoardings submitted that on November 12, Anuradha alias Rajeshwari who was riding a scooter was hit by a truck after she tried to avoid a falling flag pole of the AIADMK on a highway in Coimbatore. She had suffered serious injuries on both her legs after a lorry ran over them.

But despite the High Court observing during a recent hearing in September following the death of 23-year-old techie Subhasri that apart from imposing restrictions on erecting illegal banners, there is also a restriction in the party flags being erected on medians and walkways.

But it is unfortunate that the Chief Minister had feigned ignorance about any such restrictions imposed by the High Court regards flagpoles, Ramaswamy said.

Also, noting that authorities including the Commissioner of Police and Corporation Commissioner of Coimbatore are answerable to the gross violation for allowing the ruling party to hoist its party flag resulting in the young woman losing her limbs, the plea also sought action against the concerned local body officials and police personnel for negligence.

The plea also wanted the government to provide adequate medical treatment and monetary compensation to the affected woman.