High court directs action against illegal hoardings in Indore

Indore: The Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday directed commissioner of Indore Municipal Corporation to identify all hoardings installed on road dividers and footpaths in violation of applicable rules and to take action against them in accordance with the law.The bench, comprising Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla and Justice Alok Awasthi, issued the interim directions on a petition by one Sudesh Gupta.The petitioner, through his counsel Abhinav Dhanodkar, alleged that the allotment of advertising rights and subsequent installation of unipoles and hoardings in Indore are in direct violation of the MP Outdoor Advertisement Media Rules, 2017.Counsel for the petitioner pointed out that the rules explicitly prohibit placement of hoardings on road dividers and footpaths. To support this contention, photographs were filed along with the petition, visually documenting hoardings standing on dividers, footpaths, and similar public spaces across the city.Taking note of the submissions, the bench directed that notices be issued to all respondents, returnable in four weeks.