P. Narayana Bhat Etc. Etc. vs State Of Tamil Nadu & Ors.

The Supreme Court upheld the validity of Section 326 of the City Municipal Corporation Act, 1998, and its amendment, rejecting the appellants' claims that it violated Article 14 and Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. The Court agreed with the High Court's conclusion that the principles of natural justice apply, but clarified that mere visibility of hoardings to traffic does not automatically justify their removal or denial of license renewal. The Court emphasized that the authorities must assess whether a hoarding is hazardous to traffic safety before taking action under Section 326(J).