Karnataka HC directs BBMP to remove illegal media without exception

A division bench of Karnataka High Court that is hearing public interest litigations against illegal outdoor advertisements falling in the BBMP jurisdiction directed the civic body to
inform the court of the legal problems that are hampering the removal of illegal advertisements. The Court observed that since the BBMP began removing illegal hoardings the city was looking much better, while adding that cleanliness of public spaces in the city should become the norm.

Bangalore Mirror reported that the Court has directed that any illegal hoardings that are still on display need to be brought down immediately, and before the next Court hearing.
“The court was informed that so far, 320 advertisement hoarding structures have been removed in the city. Of these, 212 have been removed in the last one week. The petitions were adjourned to the first week of October,” the report said.

Further, another bench of the High Court has refused to give an interim stay to the BBMP order which puts a stop to all outdoor advertising for one year. “Advertising agencies had challenged the August 6 BBMP order which imposed the ban. The BBMP has started removing the metal structures on which ads are put up. The agencies wanted a status quo order so that these are not removed,” Bangalore Mirror reported.

“The BBMP submitted that it cannot give an undertaking that it will not remove the structures. It said that the Government has to take a final decision on it and BBMP has only submitted its proposal to the government. The court refused an interim stay on the order. The court asked why such huge structures are put up. It asked if there are no digital advertisement boards in the city which occupy lesser space and do not need plastic banners to be put up. This case has been adjourned to September 25.”