The court was hearing two PILs alleging that political parties, in total disregard to the rules and laws, had put up illegal hoardings and banners all over the state thereby defacing private and public properties in the towns and cities.
Justices Abhay Oka and Gautam Patel said the parties had violated their own undertakings by erecting hoardings and banners without permission of the authorities and despite notices issued to them by the court commissioners appointed to check this practice.
Adjourning the matter until then, the bench said it was inclined to issue contempt notices to various political parties and municipal bodies which had failed to remove illegal hoardings, banners and posters.
One petition was filed by Bhagwanji Riyani of Janhit Manch and the other by SuSwaraj Foundation.
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Riyani argued today that several political parties had put up illegal hoardings and banners all over Mumbai on the occasion of Chaat puja, thereby defying the earlier orders of the high court.
The petitions claimed that political parties were not
taking permission from the local authorities to put up hoardings and banners and thus did not pay the necessary charges.
Moreover, after erecting such illegal banners the parties did not remove them for several months thereby violating laws and rules of the local authorities, the PILs added.
The bench also ordered senior police inspectors in Mumbai and officers in-charge of police stations concerned outside the city to provide protection to the municipal team which removes such illegal posters and hoardings.
The court had ordered police protection because municipal bodies complained that workers of political parties beat up their staff whenever they moved in to remove such hoardings.