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Chennai techie's death: Madras HC raps TN parties, banner culture; orders Rs 5 lakh compensation to victim's family

Taking cognisance of the death of 23-year old Subhasri who was killed in an accident after an illegal flex banner put up by an AIADMK functionary fell on the two-wheeler she was riding, the Madras High Court on Friday came down heavily on the state’s political parties saying that the banner culture persisted irrespective of party in power. 

The court also ordered that an interim compensation of Rs 5 Lakh be paid to the victim’s family. While directing the Tamil Nadu government and Chennai Corporation to take disciplinary action against officials who failed to prevent illegal flex boards that led to the death of Subashree, the High court ordered that Rs 5 lakh should be collected from erring officials and given to the family of the victim as compensation.

The severe opprobrium from the court prompted leaders of major parties to issue statements to their respective cadre on refraining from the culture of erecting banners and cutouts. 

The court said it was tired of passing multiple orders against illegal flex banner erected on roads.

The Court lashed out at government officials for not implementing the orders saying that negligence of officials was the reason behind the death of Subhasri. 

Whichever party is in power, there are violations and banners are put up, the court added. 

"The state government is directed to pay an interim compensation of 5 lakhs to the father of the victim. It is open to recover the same from the concerned officials who may be found guilty of negligence, infractions and inaction of the relevant rules, laws, regulations, directions and orders. Commissioner of police has to monitor the investigation of the two cases filed in the above regard. Pallikaranai and St Thomas mount police stations traffic wing has to file status report on the progress of investigation,” the court said in its order. 

The harsh criticism from the court and the public outrage on social media drew reactions from political leaders who issued instructions to their cadre. 

DMK president MK Stalin issued a statement asking his cadre not to use cutouts and banners for party events and that violators will face stringent action. He said that he would not participate in an event if banners are found to be erected.

AIADMK leaders EPS-OPS issued a joint statement saying that cadre shouldn’t erect banners that inconvenience the public

Speaking to WION, AIADMK Spokesperson, Kovai Sathyan said, “This is a sad incident, this happened due to a banner put up by a functionary for a wedding in the house, in most party functions we have avoided banners. We are telling cadre that the era of appeasement is over, our leaders have changed. Nobody can compensate loss of life, an FIR has been filed against those who put up, printed the banner. We hope to initiate the change against this banner culture from within.”

Commenting on the manner in which political leaders have responded to the tragedy, senior Journalist and political analyst Dr Sumanth C Raman told WION, “Banner culture has been there for over the last three decades, this is the second fatal accident. There are rules to deal with this banner menace, police and bureaucracy hasn’t taken action against the violators. AIADMK leaders too should say, like Stalin, that they will not attend functions where banners are put up.” 

“More than the parties, the administration is responsible, deputy CM took part in this wedding for which the banner was put up. So the corporation engineers, police officials would have checked the route before the VIP passed through. So it is the cops, corporation officials duty to act. Judiciary, I feel, has a part to play, judges know that banners endanger road users. When they themselves travel on the roads, they have obviously seen the banners too. Why didn’t they take sou motu action all these years? The court needs to take strict action upon officials rather than just warn them, an FIR should be filed and officials should be prosecuted, if not this menace won’t end in Tamil Nadu”, said Athher Ahmed, State body member of NGO Arappor Iyakkam told WION.

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