Bombay High Court appointed a team of 17 lawyers to function as Commissioners of Court

The Bombay High Court on 19 December 2014 appointed a team of 17 lawyers to function as Commissioners of Court to help in removing the illegal hoardings.

The court also ordered that all civic bodies should have a toll-free number to enable people to register complaints against illegal hoardings.

Tasks to be served by the Commissioners of Court
• These Commissioners of Court were asked by a bench of judges headed by Justice Abhay Oka to visit various places in the state and detect illegal posters, banners and hoardings put up by political parties.
• After detecting the illegal hoardings, these Commissioners will then have to inform the concerned civic body so that steps can be initiated to remove them.
• The Court Commissioners have also been asked to check whether the concerned municipal body has taken action against such illegal hoardings or not.
• The commissioners of court have to submit a report in this regard by the end of February 2015.

Background
Earlier, the Bombay High Court was hearing a bunch of petitions alleging that political parties were putting up hoardings, posters and banners without taking permission. These hoardings were defacing public and private properties.

In November 2014, the court had pulled up municipal bodies in the state for not complying with its earlier orders on removal of illegal hoardings, posters and banners exhibited by political parties.

The bench of judges had even warned that it would dissolve civic bodies if they do not take steps to remove illegal hoardings.