Remove all illegal hoardings by Feb 23: Bombay High Court to Maha govt

The Bombay High Court has warned the Maharashtra government of contempt proceedings if it failed to remove illegal hoardings/banners from roads and other public places.

A division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice A A Sayyed said on Friday: "All the corporations have failed in removing hoardings and banners. If they are not removed by February 23, then we will be compelled to take suitable action against the concerned."

The directive was given while hearing a plea filed by Suswarajya foundation, highlighting the problem of illegal hoardings/banners, mostly of politicians and parties. The court has been regularly monitoring the issue, and on earlier occasions had imposed fine on those featured on the banners/hoardings. They have all paid the fine amounts and even undertaken to make party lower rank members not to put up illegal banners.

In an earlier order, the court had asked police commissioners to provide two armed constables to the municipal officers of every ward in the city on a daily basis. However, on Friday, when only three corporations filed their compliance reports, the court felt that not much was done. It said "No genuine effort has been made by the state. By way of a last chance, we grant all authorities concerned time till February 23."

The state government was also directed by the court to appoint a two-member committee comprising senior officials from the Urban Development department to monitor the work of removing illegal posters, banners and hoardings.

THE PLAINT

• The directive was given by Bombay High Court while hearing a plea filed by Suswarajya foundation
   
• It had highlighted the problem of illegal hoardings/banners, mostly of politicians and political parties.