Don't notify advt bye-laws without our approval: Karnataka HC to BBMP

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday directed the state government and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) that the proposed BBMP Advertisement Byelaws, 2024, shall not be notified without its approval.

A division bench, comprising Chief Justice N V Anjaria and Justice K V Aravind, issued the order after being informed that the byelaws are currently under consideration, with objections submitted by stakeholders, including petitioners in public interest litigations (PILs) and the general public.

The court was hearing a batch of PILs seeking the regulation and monitoring of advertisement hoardings and flex boards in Bengaluru.

The Additional Advocate General (AAG) informed the court that the notification would only be implemented once approved by the state government. The bench posted the matter for further consideration on November 8.

“Since the court is seized with the matter of the present PIL relating to the monitoring and regulation of hoardings, flexes which are being put up in the city of Bengaluru, it is directed that the aforesaid regulations shall not be notified without the first being produced on the record of the present proceedings and approved by the court,” the bench said.

In an earlier hearing, the court was informed that the proposed byelaws aim to have regulatory and preventive measures to curb illegal flex boards and advertisements.

The BBMP Chief Commissioner had filed an affidavit stating that a total of 9,761 illegal flex boards, banners, LEDs, and hoardings had been removed, and FIRs registered in 154 cases across all zones. A penalty of Rs 3,09,400 has been imposed in these cases, the affidavit noted.