Don’t favour any pvt entity in a PPP, Bombay HC tells govt

The Maharashtra government needs to be more transparent in its functioning when it concerns public interest, observed Bombay High Court on Thursday.

A division bench of Justice PB Majmudar and Justice RM Sawant, while dismissing a petition filed by an advertising agency challenging revocation of its No Objection Certificate (NOC) to advertise on traffic booths, observed that no favouritism should be shown to any private entity in a Public-Private Partnership (PPP).

Clear Channel, which had a contract to advertise on 876 traffic kiosks and pedestals in Mumbai, had challenged the revocation of the NOC by the traffic department. Following this, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had cancelled their license to advertise on the booths and remove the same. The agency claimed that it had spent a lot of money in setting up kiosks and pedestals for the traffic police, and stated that the NOC was valid till 2015.

The court observed that apart from inviting tenders, public opinion should be called for involving public interest. "We all know how such contracts are signed. We want honest officers, or the country will collapse in another 10 years," remarked Justice Majmudar.
Assistant government pleader Shekhar Ingawale informed the court they have revoked the NOC due to traffic reasons. When Clear Channel said that they have spent a considerable amount, Justice Sawant remarked that they could to sue the government.