Illegal hoardings case: HC warns of contempt action

The Bombay High Court today warned of contempt action against the commissioners of civic bodies and councils of every district in Maharashtra if they fail to file compliance report showing what steps have taken to ensure no illegal hoardings and banners are put up on Republic Day.
A division bench of Justices A S Oka and C V Bhadang was hearing two public interest litigations alleging that political parties, in total disregard to the rules and laws, had put up illegal hoardings and banners all over the state thereby defacing private and public properties in the towns and cities.
The court had on several ocassions directed the civic bodies and councils to ensure that no hoardings and banners are put up without prior and requisite permission.

It had on the last hearing asked all municipal corporations and councils to file compliance report on what steps they had taken to ensure that no such hoardings are put up prior to and on Republic Day this year.
The court was today informed that not a single corporation has submitted a report.
Irked by this, the court said, "We will give the corporations one more week to submit their compliance reports. If by then it is not submitted then contempt action will be taken against the commissioners of the civic bodies."
The bench had earlier also issued contempt notice to some political parties for putting up hoardings despite tendering apology and assuring the court that no illegal hoarding will be put up.