The Bombay high court on Friday issued showcause notices to municipal commissioners of 10 districts in the state seeking explanation why action should not be taken against them for failing to file compliance reports on what steps have been taken to ensure removal of all illegal hoardings and banners before Republic Day this month.

The division bench of justices A.S. Oka and C.V. Bhadang had last week warned all commissioners of municipal corporations to file affidavit by January 15, about what steps have been take to make the state free of illegal hoardings before Republic Day, otherwise the court would issue contempt notices against them. The court was irked because not a single affidavit was filed on the last date of hearing on Friday.

When the matter came up for hearing the court was informed that apart from the civic bodies in Mumbai, Nashik, Thane and Pimpri-Chinchwad, no other corporation had filed the report. The bench then issued the showcause notices to the municipal commissioners of Pune, Navi Mumbai, Kolhapur, Solapur, Malegaon, Akola, Nanded, Sangli, Ahmednagar and Bhiwandi and directed them to file their reply affidavits by February 18.

The bench was hearing two public interest litigations alleging that political parties, in total disregard to the rules and laws, had put up illegal hoardings and banners all over the state thereby defacing private and public properties in the towns and cities.

The court had on several occasions directed civic bodies and councils to ensure that no hoardings and banners are put up without permission. With civic elections to be held in 2017, political parties are trying to woo the public by putting up banners of party workers and individuals who could be contesting the elections.