The Kerala High Court has directed state authorities to submit comprehensive, detailed reports regarding the removal of illegal and unauthorised boards, banners, hoardings, flags and other election-related materials that have been placed in public spaces throughout the state. The order came while the Court was considering a review petition connected to a long-pending case about unauthorised visual displays in public places. Earlier, the High Court had issued clear directions declaring the installation of such unauthorised boards and materials to be illegal and subject to removal, fines and other penal actions. The earlier directions specifically tasked the State Election Commission and the District Election Officers with actively monitoring compliance, ensuring removal of unlawful election materials, and taking all necessary steps to enforce the order.
In the subsequent hearing on the review petition, the government pleader representing the state informed the Court that authorities had taken steps to comply with the earlier directives but required additional time to verify whether all illegal boards and election-related materials had actually been removed. The state sought time to compile a detailed status report outlining the efforts taken, the mechanisms put in place to ensure compliance, and any further actions needed to complete the cleanup operations. The High Court granted this request and directed that such comprehensive reports be submitted by the next scheduled hearing.
During the proceedings, a representative of the Welfare Association of Panchayat Secretaries highlighted the practical challenges faced in implementing the Court’s earlier directions. The Association explained that while its members were willing to cooperate, they had encountered significant difficulties in executing the removal of illegal election materials. In some localities, officials faced resistance, including threats and assaults, when attempting to remove banners and boards. The Association also noted that many illegal materials were affixed to public utility posts, such as those belonging to electricity and telephone services, which complicated removal efforts and, in some situations, prevented action altogether. Addressing these concerns, the High Court clarified that requisitions made by Panchayat Secretaries or Local Self Government Institution Secretaries to relevant public authorities must be promptly and properly addressed. The Court stressed the need for cooperation by all public authorities and reiterated that police assistance should be provided wherever necessary to ensure effective enforcement.
The government pleader further informed the Court that a coordinated online meeting had been held involving senior legal officers, amicus curiae, the Principal Director of the Local Self Government Department and Secretaries of Local Self Government Institutions to ensure full compliance with the Court’s directives. The High Court acknowledged this effort and noted that participants in the meeting had reported improvements in ground-level compliance.
Despite these developments, the High Court stressed that continued cooperation from all stakeholders — including political parties, cultural organisations and religious bodies — was crucial to uphold the state’s aesthetic and functional wellbeing. The bench made it clear that no unauthorised boards, flags or displays erected by any entity, whether public, private, cultural or commercial, were exempt from its earlier directions. The order uniformly applied to all types of unauthorised visual materials in public spaces. The matter will be taken up again after the Court vacation once the detailed compliance reports have been filed by the state authorities, so that the Court can assess the extent of implementation and decide on further action if necessary.
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