Madras high court seeks action taken report on bus advertisements covering windows and windshields

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has sought an action-taken report from the state govt and transport corporations on the removal of advertisements on buses covering windows and windshields, which block the view from both sides, in line with the Supreme Court order.The first bench, comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Judge Sunder Mohan, sought the details while allowing a public interest litigation filed by S. Baskar. He pointed out that the buses operated by state transport corporations were covered with advertisements using vinyl stickers that also blocked the windows. He said that this posed a great threat to women and children in these buses, and the imminent possibility of sexual assault against them could not be ruled out.Pointing out that such covered buses made it easier for the terrorists in the Mumbai 26/11 attack, as well as the accused in the Nirbhaya case, Baskar submitted that such violations were a contempt of court and a violation of the Motor Vehicles Act, as the colour of the entire bus changed for the advertisements without the approval of the transport commissioner. He also said that the plastic material in vinyl stickers was a pollutant of water bodies, and he sought a total ban on advertisements on the buses.

In a circular dated June, the additional chief secretary (TNSTC) wrote to all transport corporations to exercise caution in future advertisements to ensure that the norms were followed, while allowing the existing advertisements to continue until the expiry of the contract. Baskar has prayed that this should not be allowed.Recording his submissions, the first bench sought an action-taken report based on the Supreme Court order and directed the transport commissioner to submit it before September 15.