HC raps civic bodies for not filing report on illegal

The Bombay High Court today slammed municipal bodies in Maharashtra for not filing compliance reports of its earlier order asking them to take steps to remove illegal hoardings, banners and posters in their respective areas.
Among the municipal bodies, Pune Municipal Corporation filed an affidavit today complying with the February 21 High Court order.
On going through the affidavit, a bench, headed by Justice Abhay Oka, observed "this is not a compliance report" and asked the Pune civic body to file an additional report within a week.
The municipal bodies of Mumbai, Akola and Nagpur were directed to file compliance reports within 7 days.

The judges granted liberty to the petitioners to join the Election Commission of India and national political parties as respondents, while posting the matter for hearing on July 17.
The court was hearing a bunch of PILs urging removal of illegal hoardings put up by political parties on roads and in public places by political parties in the state.
On February 21, another High Court bench had asked the municipal bodies to file compliance reports stating what steps they had taken to remove illegal hoardings, launch prosecution against the guilty, recovery of taxes and fines, establishment of nodal agencies for implementation of law and creating public awareness.

Uday Warunjikar, petitioner's lawyer, pointed out a March 15, 2013 order of another bench of the High Court which had asked for removal of illegal hoardings in 48 hours.