Pinpoint illegal hoardings: Bombay HC

Mumbai: The Bombay high court has asked a petitioner to pinpoint the political parties that have violated its order not to display illegal hoardings in the state. The court’s directions came after the petitioner said that municipal corporations and the election commission had already filed their affidavit and that action only remained to be taken against the errant political parties.

A division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice M.S. Sonak was hearing a bunch of PILs filed by NGO Suswaraj Foundation and activist Bhagwanji Rayani asking for removal of illegal hoardings throughout the state. The petitioners argued that these banners were defacing cities of the state and sought action against the corporations which allowed such banners. The court had passed a comprehensive order to remove hoardings and sought compliance with the same.

On Tuesday, the petitioner’s counsel Uday Varunjikar informed the court that following the court order, various municipal corporations had filed their “action taken” report through an affidavit. Subsequently, the election commission had expressed its inability to take action against the errant political outfits. The court then asked the petitioner to make a chart and present the same in court.

Meanwhile, Pune Municipal Corporation’s counsel informed the court that the authority could not remove hoardings because advertising agencies went to court and took injunction orders from lower courts, high court orders notwithstanding.

The court then said that the state government must compile data from various municipal councils and submit the “action taken” report at the next hearing. The court then kept the hearing for next Monday.