Those who put up illegal hoardings should be prosecuted: HC

Mumbai, Feb 22 (PTI) The Bombay High Court today saidthat those who put up hoardings and banners illegally, withoutseeking permission of the civic body, should be prosecutedirrespective of who they are.

"Such people should be prosecuted, irrespective of theirposition (in the politics or government)," said the divisionbench headed by Justice P B Majmudar today.

Janhit Manch, city-based NGO, has filed a Public InterestLitigation seeking enforcement of a suggestion made by theAurangabad bench of the High court in another case, thatpoliticians featuring on the illegal hoardings must beprosecuted.

In an affidavit submitted by the Brihanmumbai MunicipalCorporation''s superintendent of licenses, Dinkar Kharat, it isstated that the civic body had granted permission for 918banners and 241 boards to political outfits for displayingbirthday greetings last year.

Between January and December 2010, BMC removed 1,24,408illegal banners and hoardings. The affidavit also states thatthe civic body permits only 20 hoardings in each ward.

However, Janhit Manch''s Bhagwanji Rayani said that thenew hoardings were coming up every day. He requested the courtto make various politicians -- Mumbai Congress chiefKripashankar Singh, Congress MP Priya Dutt, BJP''s MumbaiPresident Gopal Shetty, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief RajThackeray and Shiv Sena''s executive president Uddhav Thackeray-- parties to the PIL.

The matter will come up for next hearing on March 18.