HC to govt: 'Where is your advertisement policy?'

The Karnataka High Court, on Wednesday, pulled up the state government for failing to draft an advertisement policy which was due last year (2017).

Highlighting the lackadaisical attitude of the government, the court orally observed: “The government must work on an hourly basis; not a yearly basis.”

The court heard a public interest litigation seeking direction to the authorities to remove illegal flexes and banners in the city.

The state government counsel contended that the policy draft had to be prepared by section officers and they had not done their jobs.

In retort, the court orally observed: “Don’t blame section officers for everything. Even officers at the Secretariat-level are responsible for this. Secretariat-level officers are not doing their jobs. If this continues, the Chief Secretary will have to answer to this".

The court told the counsel to seek the Chief Secretary’s response in this regard.

The counsel submitted the investigation report with regard to the attack on BBMP workers while they were attempting to remove the flexes.

When the court sought to know the developments in the case, the Advocate General replied:  “We have arrested seven accused and an FIR has been registered at the High Grounds police station".