The Karnataka High Court on Friday took suo motu cognisance of the "menace" of illegal hoardings in Bengaluru..A Bench of Chief Justice NV Anjaria and Justice KV Aravind took note of a news report that claimed that the city's municipal authorities recently had to remove over six lakh unauthorised advertisements and hoardings from across the city.The Court warned the Municipal Commissioner and the Bengaluru Police Commissioner that it would initiate contempt proceedings against them if its orders on removing such hoardings were not complied with.It added that henceforth, it would impose a cost of ₹1 lakh each time it came across a case of illegal hoarding in the city..“It (illegal hoardings) is a menace and reflects the failure of the municipal authorities and the police to implement the several orders passed by this Court. It is evident that the authorities have not bothered to comply with the Court’s orders. If this practice continues, then the BBMP Commissioner and the Commissioner of police, Bengaluru will have to answer why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them,” the Court said..When counsel for the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the city police said that despite their efforts, new illegal hoardings kept coming up, the Court said the authorities will have to come up with a continuous mechanism to address the issue.“We don’t have any prejudice, but we are compelled to issue notice. You will have to develop a regular, continuous mechanism for the removal of illegal hoardings. You must drive your vehicle in the fifth gear instead of the first gear to follow the Court's orders,” the Court said.
The Karnataka High Court on Friday took suo motu cognisance of the "menace" of illegal hoardings in Bengaluru..A Bench of Chief Justice NV Anjaria and Justice KV Aravind took note of a news report that claimed that the city's municipal authorities recently had to remove over six lakh unauthorised advertisements and hoardings from across the city.The Court warned the Municipal Commissioner and the Bengaluru Police Commissioner that it would initiate contempt proceedings against them if its orders on removing such hoardings were not complied with.It added that henceforth, it would impose a cost of ₹1 lakh each time it came across a case of illegal hoarding in the city..“It (illegal hoardings) is a menace and reflects the failure of the municipal authorities and the police to implement the several orders passed by this Court. It is evident that the authorities have not bothered to comply with the Court’s orders. If this practice continues, then the BBMP Commissioner and the Commissioner of police, Bengaluru will have to answer why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them,” the Court said..When counsel for the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the city police said that despite their efforts, new illegal hoardings kept coming up, the Court said the authorities will have to come up with a continuous mechanism to address the issue.“We don’t have any prejudice, but we are compelled to issue notice. You will have to develop a regular, continuous mechanism for the removal of illegal hoardings. You must drive your vehicle in the fifth gear instead of the first gear to follow the Court's orders,” the Court said.
