Political hoardings in Mumbai: HC asks BMC, EC to list steps taken to curb parties from defacing city
The court had directed the BMC to removed political hoardings from the city in February (Representational Image. Courtesy: Newstrack)
The Bombay High Court on Friday questioned the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Election Commission about the steps taken to rid the city of unauthorised political hoardings and posters.
The court directed the civic body to inform about the steps taken to remove unauthorised posters put up in the city and asked the EC to list what could be be done to ensure that political parties do not indulge in defacement of public properties.
A bench of justices A S Oka and AA Sayyed directed the authorities to file their respective replies by January 9 next year.
In February, the court had passed a detailed judgement directing the BMC to remove all hoardings, banners and advertisements put up illegally by political parties or their members, and to initiate action against them.
In a related order passed at the time, the court had also directed the Election Commission to impose conditions on political parties at the time of their registration mandating that the parties will not indulge in defacement of properties and also follow all provisions of the Prevention of Defacement of Property Act and the laws governing sky signs and advertisements.
While the BMC submitted today that it has taken several steps to rid public spaces in the city of unauthorised posters, hoardings etc., the EC sought some more time to comply with the high court’s order.
The Bombay HC has been hearing a bunch of PILs alleging that political parties and their workers put up illegal political hoardings, posters, and banners in complete violation of civic rules all over the state, defacing private and public properties and spaces.
