CHENNAI: The state government on Wednesday informed the Madras HC that a standard operating procedure (SOP) has been introduced for dealing with issues of installation of flagpoles and statues in public and private places, and relocating existing ones.
Additional Advocate General J Ravindran made the submission before Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan when the petition regarding flagpoles in public places came up for hearing.
The AAG also informed that district-level committees, headed by collector, and sub-divisional level sub-committees have also been constituted for looking into these matters. In Chennai city, the committee will be headed by the commissioner of Greater Chennai Corporation.
Regarding installation of temporary flagpoles on special occasions, the SOP states permission shall be granted only for three days and they shall not be installed on the roads but only on earthen surface of the road and three metres from the edge of the bituminous surface/ riding surface. For religious events, a maximum of seven days may be allowed, it said.
Caution shall be taken to ensure flagpoles do not touch or interfere with the electric wires and if any undesirable events happen, the person who obtained permission will be held responsible.
As far as installation on private land is concerned, the SOP states encroachments along waterbodies in the form of statues and flagpoles or other structures shall not be allowed; applications shall be viewed through the prism of its political, social overtones, ramifications and judicial review to maintain law of the land.
The judge, while hailing the state government for coming up with the SOP, warned suo motu cognizance would be taken if any official failed to ensure strict adherence.
Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan, while sitting in the Madurai bench earlier this year, had ordered removal of permanent flagpoles installed in public places, and it had led to further litigations.