KERALA HC PULLED UP THE STATE GOVERNMENT FOR ALLOWING POLITICAL PARTIES TO PUT UP FLAG MASTS IN PUBLIC WITHOUT PERMISSION

The Kerala High Court of Justice Devan Ramachandran issued notice to the State government seeking its response for allowing political parties to put up flag masts in public areas or 'poramboke' land without obtaining the requisite permission. 

The Court observed that flag masts are being put wherever the political allegiances choose to place them, such as every junction in the State and stand allotted for public utility vehicles. Justice Ramachandran orally remarked,  "If someone asks a political allegiance to shift their flags masts to another place, a fight takes place, leading to communal disharmony in this country. If an ordinary man does the same, all kinds of cases will be registered against him, and that person will be dragged to ruin."

The Court passed the order on a petition filed by a property owner seeking police protection to remove flag posts that were put upon his property by political parties. Government Pleader, EC Bineesh argued that the flag was not posted on the property of the petitioner but rather on a road poramboke.

The Court opined that the installation of a flag on private property or public property is irrelevant if it has been made without following due procedure. 

Author: Papiha Ghoshal