HC orders removal of 349 illegal hoardings in Bidhannagar

The Calcutta High Court has directed the removal of over 2,500 illegal hoardings across Bidhannagar within 48 hours. The division bench, comprising Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya, noted that municipal regulations permit only 135 hoardings in the area. The excessive number of unauthorised hoardings, which currently exceeds 2,500, prompted the directive to restore compliance with existing laws.

During the hearing, the Court revealed that of 351 advertisers in the Bidhannagar area, only two had paid the requisite taxes for their hoardings to the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation. Chief Justice Sivagnanam criticized the municipal body, remarking, "It appears that the municipal corporation has deliberately not taken steps to remove illegal hoardings." The Court further questioned the lack of enforcement of laws meant to prevent defacement of public places.

The issue was raised in a public interest litigation (PIL), which flagged the public safety and environmental hazards posed by unauthorised hoardings. The Court instructed all advertisers to voluntarily dismantle their illegal hoardings within 48 hours. If this directive is not met, the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation has been authorised to remove the hoardings and recover the costs involved from the defaulters.

Additionally, the Court emphasized strict penalties for non-compliance. Violators face fines of ₹50,000 or imprisonment for up to six months. The Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation stated its readiness to comply with the Court’s order. This development follows similar concerns raised in other regions regarding safety and legal compliance of advertising structures.