Attack on BBMP officials: High Court sets deadline to complete criminal proceedings

Eight accused of targeting them for pulling down banners

Karnataka : Bengaluru : 01/08/2018 : BBMP officials removing unathorised flex on 01, August 2018. The Karnataka High Court sent the city civic body on a flex removal frenzy with a direction to do away with them by 2.30 p.m. They have so far removed over 5,000 flexes across the city. Photo : V Sreenivasa Murthy

The High Court of Karnataka on Friday directed the 10th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, before whom Ramamurthynagar police have filed a charge sheet against eight accused persons in the case of attacking officials and workers of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for removing banners, to complete the criminal proceedings in the case by this month-end.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Dinesh Maheshwari and Justice R. Devdas, viewing seriously the case of attack on officials while discharging their duty, also directed the magistrate to start the proceedings from August 13 and continue on a day-to-day basis till their conclusion.

The Bench has already imposed a rider on the magistrate court to transfer any bail application, filed on behalf of the accused in this case, to the High Court.

223 cases

Meanwhile, it was pointed out to the Bench that the city police, who were directed by the court on August 3 to keep vigil on persons putting up illegal hoardings and register cases against them, have booked 223 criminal cases based on inputs from surveillance cameras and patrolling/beat policemen.

Following this, the Bench said investigation into the 223 cases should be completed by August 14 and reports based on the investigations filed before the jurisdictional magistrates before Aug. 14.

Public notices

While pointing out that 95% of illegal banners and flexes had already been removed, the Bench was informed that the BBMP would be issuing public notices in print media asking individuals, institutions, and firms to voluntarily remove hoardings, banners, posters, etc. that were put up illegally at various public places within 48 hours.

However, the Bench said it expects “zero” illegal hoardings, banners, and posters in public places by the next date of hearing, August 14.

Advertisement policy

“It is difficult to appreciate that the proposal for new advertisement policy continues to remain pending with the BBMP,” the Bench said.

“If at all any such advertisement policy is in contemplation and is to be framed after discussions with the so-called stakeholders, steps have to be taken with utmost expedition by the BBMP while assigning the matter top-priority,” the Bench observed while directing the BBMP Commissioner to file an affidavit in this regard.