Mumbai: Coming down heavily on the authorities over illegal hoardings put up by political parties, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday passed several directions to not only pull down the hoardings, but to also hold municipal corporations responsible for it.
A division bench of Justices Abhay Oka and A.A. Sayed was hearing a public interest litigation about illegal hoardings put up by political parties across the State.
The bench has given 21 directions to municipal corporations, municipal ward officers and even the Commissioner of Police (CP).
The bench has directed the CP to make available two armed constables every day to accompany municipal officers in every ward in the city. The municipal teams will start pulling down the hoardings at 8 a.m. every day.
The 97-page order said the Superintendent of Police shall issue directions within six weeks to police officers entrusted with night patrolling, including beat marshals, to keep a vigil to prevent people from putting up illegal hoardings, banners, flexes, temporary arches or posters at night.
The court said all illegal sky signs displayed on birthdays of political leaders or festivals should be promptly removed by municipal officers.
The order also says a toll-free number be set up to enable citizens to lodge complaints via SMS, WhatsApp and phone calls, even anonymously. Senior Inspectors of police stations will have to ensure that FIRs are registered against illegal sky signs and advertisements. The court has also directed that nodal officers be appointed to ensure that the inspectors comply with this.
