HC says Corporation can check ads on buildings

CHENNAI: The Chennai Corporation has powers to regulate the display of digital flex, paintings and writings on the walls of the buildings belonging to the central government as well as private individuals, the Madras High Court has ruled.Justice K Chandru gave the ruling while dismissing a batch of writ petitions from Adview and the TN Wall Painting Advertisers Association and four others seeking to restrain the Corporation from preventing them from doing so. Their senior counsel contended the action of the Corporation was contrary to the provisions of the TN Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act. The judge, citing a judgment of the Supreme Court in Novva Ads case, said it could not be contended that the Corporation lacked any power in dealing with the same. As Chapter XII-A was upheld by the court and confirmed by the SC, the petitions were devoid of merits.