No legal right to question ad ban: BBMP

Five months into the year-long advertisement ban brought by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, advertisers have accepted the freeze and have transitioned into other modes of publicity.

Filing its response at the high court to the petition by the advertising companies challenging the ban, the BBMP said its council passed the resolution banning advertisements on August 6, 2018, after discussions.

It said the council endorsed the ban in the best interest of the public to protect the environment and stop environmental pollution and also to reduce the distraction of the drivers' attention from the road.

It said those who make the advertisements have no legal right to question the ban when the actual advertisers — companies who pay to display their products — have not protested the ban in any manner.

Move appreciated

The civic body also stated that in the way of defending the ban, the city residents and tourists alike have appreciated the removal of unauthorised hoardings.

It also assured that no favourable treatment has been given in terms of displaying advertisements to the agencies with whom it has public-private partnership deals. It reiterated that it did not renew licences to display advertisements on hoardings in the city from January 2016.

The Palike assured that it would not allow display of advertisements of any nature or material until the Outdoor Signage and Public Messaging Byelaws came into effect. Even in the case of advertisers covered in the PPP deals, the display will be allowed subject to them using 100% cotton fabric, as per the report submitted by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB).

The civic body has urged the court to dismiss the petition in the interest of justice and equity.