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Karnataka High Court expresses displeasure over compliance report of BBMP on illegal hoardings, calls it ‘eye-wash’

A division bench expressed surprise at the low count of FIRs registered on unauthorised hoardings, banners and flex.

Published Mar 21, 2023 | 4:52 PM ⚊UpdatedMar 21, 2023 | 4:52 PM

The Karnataka High Court. (Creative Commons)

The High Court of Karnataka on Monday, 20 March, expressed its displeasure at the compliance report filed by the city civic agency the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on the issue of illegal hoardings and banners in Bengaluru.

The Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale expressed surprise at only 53 First Information Reports (FIRs) being filed out of the 9,570 unauthorised hoardings, banners and flex that the authority claimed to have identified since January 2023.

The public interest litigation filed by Mayige Gowda in 2018 alleged that the authorities failed to implement the Karnataka Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act.

The Compliance Report had details of illegal banners and hoardings in each Zone of BBMP in Bengaluru.

Calling the report an “eye-wash”, the high court said, “You are not taking action against people who are erecting these banners for their own glorification and you are catching the manufacturers. It is something irrational, illogical and unreasonable. It is clear that your officers are not serious about taking action.”

“The cumulative total of identified unauthorised flex banners etc is 9,570. Whereas, the number of complaints filed is 80 while FIRs registered is 53, respectively. It is also surprising to note that in a particular area, Bengaluru (West), the identified flex/banners are 2,521 whereas the complaints filed is 5 and FIRs registered is 6,” the high court bench said.

Directing the authorities to file further response within four weeks, the high court on Monday ordered the adjournment of the case to post ‘Summer Vacation’.

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