Bombay High Court
– Photo: ANI
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The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed civic bodies to conduct a special drive against illegal hoardings and banners ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra. The move has been taken to prevent public roads from being spoiled by illegal advertisements, which are mainly put up by political parties and socio-religious organisations. The next hearing of this case will be on November 18.
A division bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyay and Justice Amit Borkar also reminded the political parties to abide by the undertakings given to the court in the past assuring that none of their workers will put up any illegal hoardings or banners. The Court has warned that violation of the agreements given by political parties will be taken seriously.
The court's direction is based on a 2017 order, in which civic bodies were directed to keep public roads free from illegal hoardings and banners. Despite this, the civic body has failed to implement this rule, due to which the court has taken strict action.
Advocate Uday Warunjikar, appearing for Suswarajya Foundation, one of the petitioner NGOs, told the court that in view of the upcoming elections to be held in November, there is a possibility of increase in illegal hoardings and banners.
The court said that it is common knowledge that political organizations and socio-religious organizations are responsible for most of the hoardings and banners put up on the streets. The bench reminded the political parties of their undertaking that they would not display hoardings, banners and had issued circulars to their workers not to indulge in illegal acts.
In this context, the HC directed the civic authorities to conduct a special drive for a period of one week to ten days, and asked them to take the strictest action permissible under law against the violators. Police officers have been instructed to provide necessary cooperation.
The court asked district collectors, sub-divisional officers and other revenue officials to take personal interest and extend cooperation during the drive against illegal hoardings and banners.
