Kochi: The Kerala High Court has issued a directive prohibiting the installation of unauthorized permanent or temporary flagpoles in public spaces across the state. The ruling emphasizes that no new flagpoles can be erected without proper legal permission.
While passing the order, Justice Devan Ramachandran noted that the state government has yet to formulate a policy for removing illegally installed flagpoles from the past. The court has directed the government to develop a plan within six months to address this issue.
Additionally, the High Court instructed the Local Self-Government Secretary to issue a circular within two weeks to all local bodies, ensuring strict compliance with the order. The court also mandated that a report on the actions taken should be submitted within a month.
The ruling was issued while considering a petition regarding unauthorized flagpoles installed by political and social organizations, including CPM, BJP, and DYFI, in front of the Pandalam Mannam Sugar Mill.
