Mumbai: The Bombay high court Friday issued show cause notices to the Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Shiv Sena, asking why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them for putting up illegal hoardings and banners across Maharashtra.

A division bench, headed by Justice A.S. Oka, said that it was of the opinion, prima facie, that these political parties had committed a breach of previous orders that prohibited display of hoardings or banners without requisite permission.

“There is material to show that these political parties have indulged in display of illegal hoardings, banners and so on. We issue notices to these parties asking them to show cause as to why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them,” the court said.

The bench sought the parties’ responses by March 27. The bench warned that if the parties failed to take appropriate action on the matter, it would issue notices to their leaders.

“Today, we are issuing notices to the political parties, but if we feel that proper action has not been taken on the issue, we will issue notices against the leaders,” said Justice Oka.

The court was hearing a bunch of petitions filed before it, raising the issue of numerous hoardings and banners put up on public roads illegally.

At last hearing, the Bombay high court had asked the Bharatiya Janata Party counsel whether its top leaders would direct party workers not to use their photos on illegal banners and posters. If not, it would issue a contempt notice against them, the high court had said.