Karnataka High Court: A Division Bench of Satish Chandra Sharma, CJ and Sachin Shankar Magadum, J. directed State Government to ensure that no display boards, unauthorized advertisements, hoardings at public places as well as in respect of various Government projects are displayed in future.
The instant petition was filed as a public interest litigation (PIL) to seek issuance of appropriate writ, order or direction directing the respondents to take action and to remove unauthorized advertisements, hoardings, display boards of political functionaries and political leaders and also to remove photographs of political persons in respect of government projects.
Counsel for the petitioners submitted that in the light of the judgment Common Cause v. Union of India in WP (Civil) Nos. 13/2003, 197/2004 and 302/2012 delivered by the Court, the respondents are certainly under an obligation to remove all such display boards, advertisements, hoardings, etc., in terms of the order passed by the Supreme Court.
The State Government submitted that they have taken various steps for complying with the order passed by the Supreme Court
It was also made clear before the Court that a meeting was held under the Chairmanship of the Secretary to the Government of Karnataka, Urban Development Department and all statutory bodies in the State have been issued instructions including the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike to remove all such hoardings and to comply with the order passed by the Supreme Court.
After perusal of the compliance report Court asked State Government to issue specific directions to the authorities and local bodies which has already been initiated.
The Court directed respondent State “to ensure that in future also, no display boards, unauthorized advertisements, hoardings at public places as well as in respect of various Government projects are displayed in future.”
The Court further directed the Government “to take prompt action in the matter keeping in view the Circular and the orders passed by the Supreme Court in the case of Common Cause (supra).”
[H.M. Venkatesh v. State of Karnataka, 2021 SCC OnLine Kar 14703, decided on 17-09-2021]
Arunima Bose, Editorial Assistant has reported this brief.
Appearances
For petitioners: Mr. Chidananda
For respondents: Mr. Sreenidhi and H. Devendrappa