Calcutta High Court Issues Notice On Plea Challenging Putting Up Of Illegal Hoardings In Bidhannagar

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday issued notice on a plea seeking directions on the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation to take action against illegal hoardings in the Bidhannagar area. The plea stated that these hoardings were a danger to the locals of the area and were being placed in an unregulated manner.

"These illegal hoardings are a serious issue, its a very serious issue. We remember [what happened] in Maharashtra," a division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya observed while recalling a recent incident from Ghatkopar in Mumbai where the collapse of an illegal hoarding led to the deaths of 17 people while injuring 75 others.

The court upon taking note of the petitioner's objections, directed a report to be filed by both the State government as well as the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation, explaining whether established guidelines were being followed in putting up hoardings and whether the hoardings challenged by the petitioner were indeed put up in violation of the applicable rules.

Accordingly, the court posted the matter after two weeks upon taking note of the "serious issue" raised by the petitioner appearing in-person. 

Case: DIBYAYAN BANERJI VS STATE OF WEST BENGAL AND ORS.

Case No: WPA(P) 293/2024