Bombay HC Slams BMC Over Illegal Hoardings Outside Court, Demands Accountability

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday pulled up the BMC for its failure to curb the menace of illegal hoardings and banners, which have now come up right outside the court building in Fort.

During the hearing on a public interest litigation against illegal hoardings, the division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar looked at photographs presented by advocate Manoj Shirsat (representing intervener activist Zoru Bhathena) and saw one outside the court, put up after the election results.

The bench was annoyed with the failure of the municipal authorities to take action and said that repeated directions appear to have fallen on deaf ears. “You permitted a hoarding in front of the High Court as well? Who is the officer? You people have started taking the court for granted. Why was it not reported by the ward officer to the commissioner?” the court said.

The Bench had last month cautioned political parties and reminded them of the undertakings furnished on their behalf to the court. However, on Wednesday, the court observed, “It appears that the political parties and other such organisations also do not have any respect for the court orders.” The court then urged the Advocate General to assist the court when the matter is next heard on December 19.