Illegal Hoardings: Karnataka High Court Asks BBMP Whether Any Action Taken Against Erring Officers

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday directed the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to submit in two weeks time a report indicating the action taken against illegal hoardings and banners erected/installed in Bengaluru.

A division bench of Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice Krishna S Dixit further asked the local body whether any action is taken or proposed to be taken against the erring officials.

“We direct that on the next date respondent BBMP to submit the action taken report pursuant to our earlier orders and reply to the memo filed today (by the petitioners) in respect of those hoardings and banners stating as to whether any prior permission was sought for to install such hoardings and banners and if without permission hoardings and banners are installed...What action was taken by the corporation and if action not taken then what action it proposes to take against erring officers, including any department action against such erring officers. Including any action of reporting the matter to the jurisdictional police authorities,” the order stated.

The court warned that in case the report indicates that these banners and hoardings are erected and installed without prior permission of BBMP or without depositing necessary fees with BBMP, it may pass appropriate orders against the erring persons/ organisation, including the direction of imposition of heavy cost and/or reporting the matter to the jurisdictional police authorities.

The development comes in a public interest litigation initiated by Mayige Gowda through counsel Advocate G R Mohan, pointing out the mushrooming of illegal hoardings, flexes and banners in the city.

Senior Advocate Professor Ravivarma Kumar appearing for another petitioner argued that despite various directions, there is a rise of banners and hoardings in Bengaluru. "These hoardings and banners are installed in majority in the busy areas and causing inconvenience and congestion of traffic," it was argued.

At this stage, the Court reminded all concerned of its order dated 2-08-23 where it was specifically observed that a cost of Rs 1 lakh would be imposed on illegally installed hoardings/banners or flexes.

Case Title: Mayige Gowda And State of Karnataka

Case No: W.P. NO. 57990 OF 2017