Leaders who appear on illegal hoardings can be prosecuted: HC

MUMBAI: A political leader whose picture appears on an illegal hoarding or a banner can be prosecuted, the Bombay High Court has held.

If leaders, who are "eulogised" by party workers are prosecuted for the hoardings that mar the city landscape, it would act as very effective deterrent, Aurangabad bench of the High Court said in the judgement last week.

The division bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and S S Shinde was hearing a PIL filed by one Sunil Jadhav, an Aurangabad resident, who had sought action against hoardings in city's Kranti Chowk.

During the hearing, the Municipal Corporation's lawyer had argued that often the hoardings do not bear the name of the person who put it up, so prosecuting the culprit becomes difficult.

To this, the High Court said, "In addition, the person, whose picture has been prominently displayed, either to felicitate him on his success, welcoming his arrival in the city or for his birthday, that person may also be liable to be proceeded by the Competent Authority."

"That is so because, such posters are published and circulated by the workers at the behest of such political leaders to eulogise them."