Concerning the large scale illegal erection of political party flag poles and billboards of intending candidates of the upcoming election, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the High Court of Manipur.

The matter was listed before the division bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice PV Sanjay Kumar and Justice MV Muralidaran on Friday.

The PIL was filed by Ringku Khumukcham, editor of Imphal Times, alleging that flag poles and billboards were erected without taking prior permission from the municipality office of Imphal. Moreover, the act is also a violation of the order of banning the advertisement from highways by the Ministry of Road Transport, said the petitioner.

The petitioner further alleged that such erection of flag poles and billboards not only obstruct the smooth running of vehicles but also to the vision of the drivers while driving.

In Friday’s hearing, the representative of IMC had accepted that the political parties or intending candidate did not take any prior permission for the uses of the government land in the jurisdiction of the IMC, said counsel of the petitioner Rakesh Meihoubam.

Following which the division bench has directed the IMC to make sure that laws and regulations of the government be followed by each and everyone irrespective of their position, he added.

The respondents of the PIL are the state government through the chief secretary, the chief engineer of PWD, the executive officer of IMC and the ministry of Roads Transport and Highways. The next hearing of the PIL is scheduled on January 28, 2022.