Contempt case: Showcause notice to 10 civic heads for non-compliance

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court today issued notices to municipal commissioners of 10 districts in Maharashtra as to why contempt action should not be taken against them for failing to file compliance reports showing steps 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 issued the show cause notices to the municipal commissioners of Pune, Navi Mumbai, Kolhapur, Solapur, Malegaon, Akola, Nanded, Sangli, Ahmednagar and Bhiwandi and directed them to file their reply affidavits by February 18.

The bench 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 occasions directed the civic bodies and councils to ensure that no hoardings and banners are put up without prior and requisite permission.

It had, during 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.

The bench was today informed that apart from the civic bodies in Mumbai, Nashik, Thane and Pimpri-Chinchwad no other corporation filed the report.

The bench had earlier also issued contempt notice to some political parties for putting up hoardings despite tendering an apology and assuring the court that no illegal hoarding will be put up.