The Pioneer 20.08.2010
DMRC gets HC breather on ads at Metro stations
Staff Reporter | New Delhi
In a major relief to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, the Delhi High Court has directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi not to remove any advertisements put up at Metro stations. The interim order came on a petition filed by the DMRC seeking exemption from paying a share of its ad revenue to the MCD. The court has, however, said that when the matter is finally decided on revenue, it will be subject to interest.
Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw has also asked the DMRC to submit quarterly reports with full details of its advertisements to the MCD. The matter will be taken up for further hearing on November 15. The DMRC has approached court seeking exemption from sharing its ad revenue with the MCD. It has also sought an exemption from obtaining permission from the civic agency before displaying commercial advertisements in and around Metro stations.
Stating that it is not liable to share revenue generated from advertisements, the DMRC submitted “the DOAP policy framed by MCD as also the relevant provisions under the law, relating to seeking permission of the Commissioner before erection, exhibition of any advertisement in public view, would not be applicable to the petitioner (DMRC)”.
Appearing for MCD, counsel Mini Pushkarna said “according to the policy and agreement, on MCD land 50 per cent and on non-MCD land 25 percent of the collected revenue is to be shared by DMRC with the civic agency.” The DMRC has sought quashing of the civic agency’s Delhi Outdoor Advertisement Policy (DOAP) 2008 in which it was mandated that DMRC has to seek the MCD Commissioner’s permission for display of any advertisement.
The MCD had issued notice to the DMRC asking for its share of the revenue generated from the display of advertisements and threatened it would take action in case the amount was not paid.
The MCD had also issued notices to the DMRC’s contractors who had put up billboards and advertisements and had asked them to remove the ads. The DMRC has also sought quashing of all notices issued to it by the MCD.
