The Times of India 16.03.2013
Activists want Nagpur Municipal Corporation to file FIR against violators for illegal hoardings
NAGPUR: With the Nagpur Municipal Corporation
(NMC) removing 462 illegal hoardings, banners and posters across
Nagpur, social activists in the city are now demanding that the civic
body files police complaints against those responsible for putting them
up.
"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.
"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.
