“It is high time that the NMC lodges a FIR in all cases
apart from action under MMC Act, as it is a cognizable offence under
Maharashtra Prevention of Properties Defacement Act, 1995. So all the
accused must be booked in all 462 cases,” demanded social activist Vinod
Tiwari in a memorandum submitted to municipal commissioner Shyam
Wardhane.

Tiwari pointed out that the Nagpur Bench of Bombay
high court has already formulated guidelines and every hoardings,
banner, posters, arches without prominent mention of permission and the
issuing authority, must be treated as illegal and unlawful prompting
filing of FIR.

“So in all 462 cases detected on Thursday, penal
action must follow. Its our duty to report FIR in all cases of
cognizable offences and accused cannot be set free to repeat offences
again, as seen in last several months,” demanded Tiwari.

Endorsing Tiwari’s views, Parivartan Citizens’ Forum secretary, Dinesh Naidu
pointed out that on March 4, 2010 the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court
had issued show cause notices for initiating action against the
officers for contempt of court as they failed to stop violation of
orders/directions issued regarding erection of illegal hoardings,
banners, posters, cut outs, gates etc.

Despite the fact that
hundreds of hoardings have been removed since Thursday, not a single
party has been booked for violation. Considering this, the high court
must initiate strict action against the civic chief for not doing so,
the activists demanded.

“On one hand the NMC says that they
don’t have adequate manpower to remove the hoardings and on the other
they don’t take strict action which only allows the defaulters to act on
free will. A stringent action against violators would ensure that the
city is more beautiful and free from this visual pollution,” said Naidu.

Deputy municipal commissioner Sanjay Kakde told TOI that a directive
has been issued to the NMC’s estate department to initiate penal action
and lodge FIR against those whose pictures or names are printed on the
illegal hoardings. He, however, pointed out that the civic body has yet
to receive the order copy of the Bombay High Court on illegal hoardings.

When asked similar orders were issued by Nagpur bench, he could not
reply. “Soon orders will be issued in this regard,” he said.

A
senior police inspector (requesting anonymity) said that they can only
act if the NMC officials file complaint against illegal hoardings or
banners. “But we never received any single complaint from the civic
officials,” he added.