High Court dismisses PIL for CBI probe into ad lobby-BBMP nexus

The High Court on Friday dismissed the PIL seeking directions for a CBI probe into the reported nexus between the advertisement lobby and the BBMP officials, and to ban all unauthorised flexes and hoardings.

A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice S K Mukherjee and Justice Ravi Malimath dismissed the PIL for it had become infructuous as the State government has handed over the inquiry to the CID and there was no need for a CBI inquiry.

  The petitioner, Sai Dutta had argued that BBMP's assistant commissioner K Mathai in his report has stated that the Palike has missed out on augmenting its revenue to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore by not collecting the advertisement fee from hoardings and flexes erected across the City. 

At present, BBMP is collecting hardly 1.5 per cent of the total potential revenue from advertisement hoardings as unauthorised hoarding rules the roost in connivance with the BBMP officials and politicians.  

The petitioner had contended that there is uncontrolled, unauthorised advertisement hoarding erected on either side of the roads in the City, and the zonal commissioners have failed to penalise the advertisers or take steps to remove illegal hoardings.  The numerous flex banners and hoardings have spoilt the beauty of the City. 

 The High Court on Friday quashed the final notification issued by Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) with regard to 36 guntas pertaining to M Mukunda, the petitioner who had challenged the possession of the land. The BDA had issued final notification in 1998 pertaining to 564 acres of land in BTM 6th stage near Hulimavu.  

As time had lapsed and no action was taken by the BDA, Justice Anand Byrareddy allowing the petition quashed the final notification pertaining only to the petitioner.