The Bombay high court on Thursday once again reiterated the civic bodies and district councils across Maharashtra to ensure illegal hoardings free Republic Day in the state.
The Bombay high court on Thursday once again reiterated the civic bodies and district councils across Maharashtra to ensure illegal hoardings free Republic Day in the state. In the meantime, the BMC filed compliance report saying more than 15,000 illegal hoardings and banners were removed from the city.
The division bench of Justice A.S. Oka and Justice C.V. Bhadang said that all civic bodies and district councils in Maharashtra should take steps to make sure that no illegal hoardings are put up by political parties prior to or on January 26, this year.
The bench, on January 15 had issued show cause notices to municipal commissioners of 10 districts in the state seeking explanation why actions 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.
Siddarth Bansode, Deputy Superintendent (License) filed an affidavit before the court said BMC on Thursday submitted a compliance report stating that in 2015, it removed 15,021 illegal hoardings and banners across the city and 127 FIRs have been filed against those who had put up illegal hoardings.
The affidavit further said, “Instructions were given to the concerned ward officers to initiate prosecution against illegal hoardings and banners displayed in the name of political parties and leaders under Mumbai Municipal Act. Accordingly, 1,430 number of prosecutions have been filed in Mumbai.”
The affidavit further said that all requisite steps would be taken to ensure that no illegal hoarding or banner is put up on January 26 this year.
The bench was hearing two public interest litigations alleging that political parties, in total disregard to 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 has posted the petitions for hearing on February 18.
