‘Need proactive officers for immediate action,’ Bombay HC seeks details from civic bodies on FIRs against illegal hoardings, banners and fines recovered

Emphasising on the need for “proactive” officers across municipal and police authorities, the Bombay High Court on Monday sought the data on number of FIRs lodged against illegal hoardings, banners and posters on roads and fines imposed and recovered from the defaulters. The HC was hearing petitions alleging non-compliance of the high court order of […]

The HC had earlier asked political parties including BJP, Congress, Shiv Sena, NCP, MNS and others to submit undertakings that none of their functionaries would put up illegal banners or hoardings.

Emphasising on the need for “proactive” officers across municipal and police authorities, the Bombay High Court on Monday sought the data on number of FIRs lodged against illegal hoardings, banners and posters on roads and fines imposed and recovered from the defaulters. The HC was hearing petitions alleging non-compliance of the high court order of 2017 to pull down illegal hoardings.

The HC had earlier asked political parties including BJP, Congress, Shiv Sena, NCP, MNS and others to submit undertakings that none of their functionaries would put up illegal banners or hoardings.

“The person who is authorised by political parties should take the responsibility, because sometimes you see happy birthday posters being put on the road, and sometimes the picture of the person who is wishing is larger than the person whose birthday is. So, therefore, the best way is to put that QR code and regulate printing,” the bench said on Monday.

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A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Sandesh D Patil appreciated the steps taken by Latur Municipal Corporation in Marathwada region against illegal hoardings and banners and said the same can be adopted in other civic bodies.

“This is a very nice system put by the Latur corporation. So, this can be incorporated by other civic bodies too. Because they (Latur) have been successful in their mission. The only thing is you need proactive people, whether in the municipal commissioner’s office or in the police force. They have their own WhatsApp group where zone officers are there, sanitation inspectors are there. And once the photographs are shared, they immediately respond to all that,” the bench remarked.

The Latur civic body’s lawyer also said regular meetings are held with printers and they were directed that QR codes giving details of the persons putting up the banner or hoarding are required to be printed, without which the same will not get permission.

“We would just like to know what action the corporations have taken to recover fines, because you see a huge number of posters being put up. So, what is the mechanism and what have the corporations done to recover fines, action taken on those hoardings and recover money?” the HC asked.

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The bench also gave a last chance to Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) to file its affidavit on action taken by it against illegal hoardings, failing which the court said that it will be constrained to summon the Municipal Commissioner during next hearing on November 26.