Ultimatum Civic bodies of Thane, Navi Mumbai, Mira-Bhayander and Pune asked to report compliance by March 15.

Cracking the whip against illegal hoardings, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other civic bodies in the state to free their cities of all illegal hoardings within 24 hours.

Despite several strictures passed by the court over the years, BMC has been unable to take action to stop illegal hoardings from surfacing. This time though, the corporation has been given a strict 24-hour deadline to rid the city of illegal hoardings marring the cityscape. BMC, however, reckoned it was a tall order and may seek more time.

Taking note of the measures taken by Satara Municipal Corporation to remove illegal hoardings, Justices A M Khanwilkar and A P Bhangale said, "If the Satara Municipal Corporation can do it in a week, then the BMC, with all its infrastructure, should be in a position to do it within 24 hours."

Observing that majority of these hoardings and banners belong to political parties, the court also asked the civic bodies to issue notices to persons whose names or photographs are printed on the allegedly illegal hoardings.

The court said that by not acting against illegal hoardings, the municipal commissioner was being a co-conspirator in putting them up. "If the hoardings are not removed, then we will contemplate initiating action against the commissioners and district council chiefs concerned," the court warned.

BMC's counsel sought time to file an affidavit but the court riposted, "We don't want an affidavit. We want you to take action and inform us about it."

Observing that illegal hoardings are defacing the city's skyline, the court asked the civic bodies of Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Mira-Bhayander and Pune to report compliance of the court's order on March 15.

The petition was filed by Thane activist Prabhakar Chaudhari. His lawyer Sagar Joshi said they had urged the court to direct the removal of the hoardings and initiation of action against concerned corporation officers who fail to act against them.

Every month, on an average, the BMC removes roughly 2,500 to 3,000 illegal hoardings, though their actual number may be much higher. Based on data collected over a year, more than 70 per cent of these hoardings have been found to be political banners.

Sharad Bande, superintendent of the license department of the BMC, said it is difficult to take action against political parties as the real culprits are unknown. "We immediately fine commercial hoardings. But it is difficult to take action against those behind political banners as it may be a supporter or detractor out to make trouble," Bande had said earlier.

In the budget for the forthcoming financial year, municipal commissioner Sitaram Kunte proposed a hoardings-free city. "We are in talks with political party leaders and want to achieve this through cooperative action rather than taking on an adversarial role with politicians," Kunte had said.

Hoardings in heritage precincts and on heritage structures are banned and their installation requires special permission from the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC). The MHCC has regularly written to the BMC's licence department asking the civic body to take action against the illegal hoardings on heritage structures.

The BMC has been pulled up by the High Court over several years for its inability to rein in on illegal hoardings mushrooming all over the city. In a PIL filed by gynaecologist Anahita Pandole, the court was informed in October 2009 that of the 1,971 hoardings examined by a court-appointed committee, 892 were found to be illegal. The court was also told that as many as 750 trees along the city's highways had been hacked to make way for hoardings.

Another PIL filed by NGO Janhit Manch had stated that erecting illegal hoardings can attract three months' imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 2,500 under the Maharashtra Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1995.

BMC to seek more time

Following the Bombay High Court's order asking the BMC to free the city of illegal hoardings, the corporation said it will seek more time from the court to complete the labourous task. "It is not possible to get rid of all the hoardings within 24 hours. We are contemplating approaching the court and asking for more time on this matter," said Additional Municipal Commissioner Mohan Adtani.

"We have been rigorously acting against illegal banners for the past many months. Following the court order, we will expedite the action further," a senior BMC official said.