Irked with the fact that not a single affidavit has been filed by any municipal corporations about compliance of a court order that had asked the civic bodies to ensure all illegal hoardings and banners are removed before Republic Day, the Bombay high court on Friday warned of issuing contempt notices against commissioners of municipal corporations if affidavits are not filed by next Thursday.
The division bench of Justice A.S. Oka and Justice C.V. Bhadang were 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.
It said, “We will give the corporations one more week to submit their compliance reports. If by then it is not submitted, contempt action will be taken against the commissioners of the civic bodies.”
The bench had earlier issued contempt notice to some parties for putting up hoardings despite tendering apology and assuring the court that no illegal hoarding will be put up.
The court had on several occasions directed the civic bodies and councils to ensure that no hoardings and banners are put up without prior and requisite permission.
