Remove illegal hoardings immediately: HC to municipal authorities

The court issued notices to municipal authorities seeking their replies on whether the policy and Act were being implemented in "letter and spirit"

Concerned over billboards, hoardings and posters, both political and commercial, being put up across the city in "gross violation" of outdoor advertising policy, Delhi High Court today directed municipal authorities to immediately remove such illegal structures.

A bench of justices B D Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva observed that "there appears to be prima facie evidence of violation" of the 2007 Outdoor Advertising Policy and the 2009 Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act.

The court issued notices to the municipal corporations of east, north and south Delhi, the New Delhi Municipal Council, Delhi Cantonment Board, city government and the police seeking their replies on whether the policy and Act were being implemented in "letter and spirit".

"It is prima facie evident that there is gross violation of the policy and the Act. We need to see some action in implementation of the policy and Act.

"The respondents (Delhi government and other authorities) shall act immediately and remove illegal hoardings,billboards, posters which have been put up in violation of the policy and Act," the court said.

The court was hearing a plea filed by Colonel (retd) Shivraj Kumar, a 83-year-old resident of the city, who has contended that advertisement hoardings, banners, posters and billboards, of any size, are being put up on residential buildings in violation of the policy and Act.

In his plea filed through advocate Shadan Farasat, Kumar has sought removal of the illegal hoardings and posters, saying "they deface the skyline, buildings and walls of the city and are a constant threat to pedestrian and traffic safety".