An association of outdoor advertising agencies has moved the Delhi High Court seeking implementation of a 2007 policy to check illegal hoardings.
The Indian Outdoor Advertising Association, which is based in Mumbai, has alleged in its plea that due to "mushrooming" of illegal hoardings, those who are putting up such structures legally are being affected and sought directions to the civic agencies to implement the 2007 policy.
Justice Vibhu Bakhru, however, refused to pass any orders, saying a PIL seeking implementation of the policy is already being heard by a division bench of the high court and tagged the association's plea with it.
Both petitions are now likely to be taken up on May 6.
The Association has contended that the mushrooming of illegal advertisements results in value of lawful sites getting "diminished".
Earlier on April 8, while hearing the PIL the division bench of high court had expressed concern over billboards, hoardings and posters, both political and commercial, being put up across the city in "gross violation" of the policy and had directed municipal authorities to immediately remove such illegal structures.
A bench of justices B D Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva had observed that "there appears to be prima facie evidence of violation" of the 2007 Outdoor Advertising Policy and the 2009 Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act.
The court had issued notices to the municipal corporations of east, north and south Delhi, the New Delhi Municipal Council, Delhi Cantonment Board, city government and the police seeking their replies on whether the policy and Act were being implemented in "letter and spirit".
The PIL has been filed by Colonel (retd) Shivraj Kumar, an 83-year-old resident of the city, who has contended that advertisement hoardings, banners, posters and billboards, of any size, are being put up on residential buildings in violation of the policy and Act.
He has sought removal of the illegal hoardings and posters, saying "they deface the skyline, buildings and walls of the city and are a constant threat to pedestrian and traffic safety".
He has also alleged that the hoardings or billboards are installed in public spaces or private buildings and in some cases are hanging down dangerously from homes and flats.
