The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) informed the Karnataka High Court on Monday that the state government has approved new by-laws to address the persistent issue of illegal hoardings and flex banners in Bengaluru. The new regulations, named the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (Advertisement) By-laws 2024, include provisions for penal action against violators.
The BBMP has also invited public objections to the by-laws before they are officially notified. This update was presented during a hearing of a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) on unauthorized hoardings. In a previous hearing on July 12, the court highlighted a report that revealed the recent removal of over 600,000 illegal advertisements and hoardings by municipal authorities in the city.
The High Court, comprising Chief Justice N V Anjaria and Justice K V Aravind, warned the Municipal Commissioner and Bengaluru Police Commissioner that they could face contempt proceedings if they fail to enforce the court’s orders regarding the removal of illegal hoardings. The court stressed the importance of better coordination between civic authorities and the police in executing these directives.
The court also emphasized that the new by-laws should include strict penalties to deter future violations and recommended continuous monitoring to prevent the recurrence of illegal hoardings, particularly during the monsoon season when they pose additional hazards. The possibility of expanding the PIL’s scope to cover the entire state may be considered in future hearings. The next hearing is set for September 26.
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