Remove illegal hoardings in 24 hrs: High Court

The Bombay high court on Wednesday came down heavily on the municipal corporations and councils in the state for letting cities get defaced by illegal banners and posters. It has now directed the civic bodies of Thane, Navi Mumbai, Mumbai, and Mira-Bhayandar to bring the illegal hoardings down within 24 hours.

A division bench of justices AM Khanwilkar and AP Bhangale said, “If the banners/hoardings are not removed, then the civic commissioner or CEO can be held responsible for the inaction.”

The bench also directed the civic bodies to issue notices and take criminal action against those responsible for putting up the hoardings, posters or banners, apart from fining them as well as recovering the cost incurred in removing the hoardings, banners or posters from them.

The directions were given during the hearing of a bunch of public interest litigations raising concern about illegal hoardings, posters, banners in various cities. The bench has directed all the civic bodies to submit compliance reports on March 15.

The judges said, “Whenever we go anywhere in the city, we find only political party banners put up on roadsides. Is there any action taken against any political leaders?
Nobody is bothered about this or the environment.” They added that putting these things up is an offence and if they aren't removed, the civic commissioner can be held as a co-conspirator.

The court also referred to information provided to it about the situation in Satara. It said, “When Satara Municipal Corporation can do it in one week, why can’t you?”

Acting on a previous direction from the high court, Satara's civic body has removed 109 illegal hoardings within its limits in a week, lodged complaints against people responsible and also recovered Rs2.70 lakh in fine.