Plea submits CM Eknath Shinde's illegal hordings not removed by BMC: Bombay High Court says can't rely on one media report

The Bombay High Court on Friday asked the counsel to submit an affidavit who informed the bench that as per a media report Bombay Municipal Corporation Chief has unofficially directed its officers not to remove hoardings or banners of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

A bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice MS Karnik noted that the bench cannot rely on just a media report.

The bench was hearing a batch of petitions against illegal hoardings, posters, and banners in public places. Prior to this, the High Court had ordered the state government and municipal authority to make sure that no illegal hoarding or banner may be erected any where.

Advocate Manoj Shirsat, representing one of the petitioners, informed the court of a newspaper report claiming that the BMC chief had given municipal staff members an unofficial directive not to take down any hoardings or banners of the Chief Minister.

In reference to this, the bench asked Shirsat to place the same on record in an affidavit.

Additionally, the state government submitted a report informing about the measures it has taken to combat unauthorized hoardings and making recommendations for additional measures.

Moreover, the government submitted that it could fine and punish violators more severely, mark off areas for the placement of hoardings, hire private companies to keep an eye out for unlawful hoardings and compile a database of hoarding licenses.

The bench after taking the report on record listed the matter for further hearing on September 12, 2022.

Source: PTI