Issue of giant billboards on highways: Take action against gram panchayats who grant permission without authority, HC orders govt

MUMBAI: The High Court has come down hard on the Gram Panchayats allowing giant billboards in the absence of any legal authority. Also, the court has ordered the state government to take serious notice of these types and issue a circular prohibiting all Gram Panchayats from granting such permits. The court has also ordered the government to take legal action against gram panchayats that allow giant billboards.* After the billboard incident at Ghatkopar, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) had issued notices to the concerned companies to remove the giant billboards placed on highways in Navi Mumbai. These companies had approached the High Court against these notices. Also, it was claimed that the concerned gram panchayats had given permission to put up the advertisement boards. These companies had also argued in the court that there was no need for the permission of CIDCO or Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation due to the permission of Gram Panchayats. The court ordered the companies to remove the giant billboards. Subsequently, these companies had given an assurance to the court to remove the billboards. Taking cognizance of this, the court had given these companies till the end of August to remove the boards. On the occasion of these petitions, the court took cognizance of the fact that such giant billboards are being given illegal permission by the Gram Panchayats. It is known that the Gram Panchayat has no authority to grant permission to put up giant billboards on the highway and the companies took the permission of the respective Gram Panchayats and installed the boards. The bench of Justice Mahesh Sonak and Justice Kamal Khata said while ordering the government to take action against the concerned gram panchayats, it has come to light that the gram panchayats are also allowing advertising companies to put up giant hoardings without any legal authority. While giving this order, the court also expressed surprise as to why the concerned planning authorities are not taking action on the boards when they are aware of all this. It is time for the state government to take a serious note of the actions of the Gram Panchayats who allow giant advertisement boards to be put up on the highways without permission. That is why the government needs to issue a circular to curb such malpractices, the court said. Similarly, the government was ordered to issue this circular.