Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation today told the Bombay High Court that it has banned hoardings, banners and posters of political parties, politicians, films/serials and tobacco and liquor products at 'pandals' for Navratri festival.
Also, a policy which the corporation is formulating may ban hoardings put up by political workers to wish birthdays to their leaders or convey festival greetings to people.
The court is hearing a public interest litigation filed by social worker Bhagwanji Rayani, seeking implementation of a March 2013 order of the court against illegal hoardings.
Rayani has said that despite the court's fiat, illegal hoardings have mushroomed again.
"The BMC has issued a circular on October 1 setting out guidelines to be followed during the ensuing Navratri festival....No hoardings, posters and banners of political parties, politicians, movies and serials and tobacco, gutkha and liquor products will be allowed," BMC counsel Anil Sakhare told the court today.
Displaying banners and posters depicting civic and social messages at Navratri 'pandals' would be compulsory.
Sakhare added that a policy on hoardings will be placed before the general body of BMC within a month. According to the draft policy submitted before the court today, banners of political parties/ politicians on birthdays or greeting people on festivals would not be allowed.
The BMC also submitted an action taken report, as sought by the court. From March to September this year 2,663 illegal hoardings, posters and banners were removed, it says.
The bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice M S Sanklecha scheduled the next hearing for November 21.
