Bylaw on hoardings HC raps govt

The State government came under fire from the High Court on Monday for its failure to frame a bylaw governing the issuance of licences to put up hoardings at public and private places.

The Court had directed the government to come up with a model bylaw under the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act.

“It has been six weeks since the Court directions. You (the government) have been giving permission for hoardings illegally and there has been no scientific verification of the places.

They (advertising agencies) will put up the hoardings which distract drivers’ attention leading to accidents,” Justice Ram Mohan Reddy observed while hearing a petition filed by an advertising agency charging Devanahalli Gram Panchayat with irregularities in issue of licences.

The petitioner, Ajay Advertisements, had alleged that there had been violations in allotting tenders to erect hoardings near the Bengaluru International Airport.
The matter has been adjourned to December 3.