HC pulls up State govt. and political parties over illegal hoardings across Maharashtra

Bombay High Court issues contempt notices to political parties for illegal hoardings, demands action under Contempt of Court Act.

The Bombay High Court on Thursday (December 19, 2024) issued contempt notices to all political parties in connection to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed against increasing numbers of illegal hoardings and banners across the State featuring politicians and political parties.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Amit Borkar heard the petition for the second day in a row and observed: “The court had in its earlier orders taken on record the undertakings given by the political parties. However, it appears that these political parties have not come true with the same. We issue notice requiring them (political parties) to show cause as to why appropriate action for defiance of the judgment passed in 2017 should not be taken against them under the provisions of the Contempt of Court Act. Let the political parties show cause why contempt action should not be initiated against them.”

In 2017, political parties such as Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress, Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena had submitted an undertaking on record agreeing that they would not encourage any display of unauthorised hoardings, banners or posters and they had issued circulars to their respective political leaders and followers directing them to not indulge in putting up unnecessary hoardings.

“However, it appears that these political parties have not come true with the same. What could be more horrendous than this? Despite our 2017 judgment directing strict action against illegal hoardings will be taken, see where we are headed to. This is a very sad situation. We again request you to impress upon the authorities. Do not face the court into a situation where we will be constrained to take strict action. Do not push us into situations where the officers are tried for contempt. These illegal hoardings are even defacing the High Court and civil buildings in the city,” the Bench observed.

On Wednesday, the High Court said that the political parties have no regards and respect for the court’s orders and expressed its displeasure at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and other municipal corporations across Mumbai and nearby districts failing to take action against the increasing banners, hoardings and posters despite the repeated orders given by the High Court. The court also pointed out that post the elections the number of such hoardings have just sprung up in large numbers across the State. If the civic bodies are not following court directives, the High Court will be compelled to issue contempt notices to the officers concerned too, the Bench noted on Thursday.

“Do not push the court to a corner where we have to take strict action. We are cautioning you (the civic bodies). Why are they even allowed to be put up? You say efforts are made. We are not questioning that, but they are clearly inadequate,” the Bench said.

Advocate General Birendra Saraf submitted to the court that around 22,000 unauthorised hoardings were removed post elections.