COIMBATORE CONSUMER CAUSE Vs. STATE OF TAMIL NADU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS Writ Petition is filed in public interest praying to issue a Writ of mandamus directing the respondents to initiate appropriate action against the violation of Rule 343 of the Tamilnadu Motor Vehicles Rules with regard to the prohibition of advertisements on buses, both Government and private, in the entire State of Tamilnadu, within a time limit stipulated by this Court and issue appropriate orders to remove all such illegal advertisements.

(2.) ACCORDING to the petitioner, the buses operated by State owned Corporations and private carriages are displaying advertisements on the exterior portion of the bus on all sides. The advertisements and display are in violation of Rule 343 of the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicles Rules. It distracts the road users and the drivers of the other vehicles resulting in accident. For better appreciation of the issue, in the present case, it will be appropriate to refer Rule 343 of the tamil Nadu Motor Vehicles Rules which reads as follows:-

(3.) LEARNED counsel for the petitioner brought to the attention of the court the advertisements that are carried or displayed on the motor vehicles contrary to the above stated rules. It is stated that the competent authority has not granted the permission in writing with or without conditions, restrictions for display of the advertisements. In any event, it is stated that in many of the vehicles run by the State and the private operators, the glass window screens are covered by advertisements which not only restricts the transmission of the light into the vehicle and is a source of major distraction to the other road users, particularly, drivers of the other vehicles. In this context, the present writ petition has been filed.