Illegal hoardings: HC issues notices to NCP, BJP, RPI and MNS

The Bombay High Court Friday issued notices to four political parties -- the NCP, BJP, RPI and the MNS -- asking them to explain why their workers put up illegal hoardings and banners on public roads.

The office bearers of these political parties had last year filed undertakings in the high court assuring that their workers would not put up hoardings and banners on public roads and places without requisite permission from the authorities concerned.

The undertakings were part of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by NGO Suswarajya Foundation raising the issue of large number of illegal hoardings and banners put up by political parties.

The high court has in the past passed several orders holding that such illegal hoardings deface public roads and places and had directed civic bodies to take strict action in such cases.

The court had then sought the political parties to submit undertakings.

Following this, office bearers of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Republican Party of India (RPI) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) submitted undertakings.

Last week, the court was informed by the petitioner that, despite the assurances and orders from court, there are large number of hoardings put up everywhere. In support of the claim, the petitioner submitted photos of the hoardings.

The bench took note of this and issued notices to the office bearers of the four political parties.

"We call upon the said political parties to disclose as to why large number of hoardings are displayed by their party workers. We also want them to explain what action they have taken against their workers for indulging in such illegal activities," the court said.

The bench has posted the petition for further hearing on December 7.