The Bombay High Court questioned the inaction of civic bodies over the increasing number of hoardings, banners and posters in Maharashtra. file. | Photo credit: Vivek Bendre
The Mumbai High Court on Thursday (December 19, 2024) issued contempt notices to all political parties in connection with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed against the growing number of illegal hoardings and banners across the state.
A division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Amit Borkar, hearing the petition for the second consecutive day, observed: “The court had taken on record the commitments given by the political parties in its earlier orders. However, it seems that these political parties have not come to that. We issue a notice under the provisions of the Contempt of Courts Act requesting them (political parties) to show cause why appropriate action should not be taken for contempt of the judgment passed in 2017. Political parties should show reasons why contempt action should not be taken against them.”
In 2017, political parties such as Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress, Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena submitted an undertaking on record agreeing not to encourage display of unauthorized hoardings, banners or posters and issued circulars. Directing their respective political leaders and followers not to put up unnecessary hoardings.
“However, these political parties seem not to have come to the truth. What could be worse than this? Despite our 2017 decision to direct strict action against illegal hoardings, look where we are headed. This is a very sad situation. We request you to impress the authorities again. Do not face the court in a situation where we are forced to take strict action. Don’t fool us into being sued for contempt of office. These illegal hoardings are tarnishing the High Court and even the civil buildings of the city,” the bench said.
On Wednesday, the High Court said that the political parties had no regard and respect for the court’s order and expressed its displeasure over the failure of the Brihanmumbai Municipality and other municipalities in Mumbai and surrounding districts to take action against the proliferation of banners, hoardings and posters. Despite repeated orders by the high court, the court also pointed out that the number of such hoardings across the state has recently come up in large numbers after the elections. The bench mentioned on Thursday that if the civil body does not follow the instructions of the court, the High Court will be forced to issue contempt notices to the officials concerned.
“Don’t push the court into a corner where we have to take strict action. We are alerting you (civic body). Why are they allowed to keep it? He says he is trying. We do not question it, but they are clearly inadequate,” the bench said.
Advocate Birendra Saraf informed the court that around 22,000 unauthorized hoardings were removed after the election.
The bench noted that it was aware that steps had been taken by the civic body to remove such hoardings. However, their steps are not aggressive enough, and the numbers are insignificant when the total count of such hoardings and banners is not known.
Looking at the photographs, the court said: “Certain photographs have been submitted by Mr. Manoj Sirsath, learned counsel at the Bar, which depict various hoardings put up in Mumbai, particularly in the Fort area. Despite our clear and unambiguous instructions, the Mumbai Municipality and other Municipal Corporations have put up such illegal hoardings and banners. It seems that concrete steps have not been taken to control the dangers that such banners and hoardings can cause.”
“These photographs are proof of the complete apathy of the authorities who are obliged not only to check the menace of illegal hoarding but also to comply with the orders of this court,” the bench said.
The high court adjourned the next hearing of the case to January 27, 2025.
published – Dec 20, 2024 at 04:08 pm IST