HC’s new directive to BBMP raises questions

Even as the Bengaluru OOH space awaits the implementation of the proposed BBMP Advertisement Bylaws 2024, a new development has come into the picture.   

The Karnataka High Court has reportedly directed the State Government and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) that the proposed BBMP Advertisement Bylaws, 2024, shall not be notified without the Court’s approval.

According to media reports, the division bench, comprising Chief Justice N V Anjaria and Justice K V Aravind, issued the order after being informed that the bylaws are currently under consideration, with objections submitted by stakeholders, including petitioners in public interest litigations and general public. It has been reported that in an earlier hearing, the court was informed about the proposed bylaws aiming to have regulatory and preventive measures to curb illegal flex boards and advertisements.  

According to senior industry people that Media4Growth spoke to, there is need for more clarity regarding the matter, as the matter of the Municipal Corporation and its policy is beyond the jurisdiction of the High Court. It remains to be seen how the corporation body will respond to the directive.  Meanwhile, the uncertainty over the implementation of the bylaws continues.  

It may be recalled the Karnataka State Government had recently given its nod to the BBMP Advertisement Bylaws 2024. The new bylaws call for advertising firms to participate in auctions for winning media rights to specific areas of the city, whereby all such areas under the BBMP jurisdiction are specifically defined along with the maximum permissible advertising space and media dimensions.