Illegal hoardings: Contempt notice to be issued against BJP corporator by Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court, on Friday, rapped a sitting municipal councilor of the Bharatiya Janata Party from Andheri East, who had put up illegal hoardings on public grounds and had assaulted those municipal officers who went to remove them. The court is likely to issue on Monday, a showcause notice under the Contempt of Courts Act.

A division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice MS Sonak, while hearing a contempt petition filed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) against Murji Patel and seven others, said, "What is alleged is not so simple. A case of, both criminal and civil contempt is made out against you."

Senior advocate, Anil Sakhare informed the court that complaints were received from citizens about illegal hoardings being put up on a public ground by Jeevanjoti Foundation, which is run by Patel and his wife. On January 31, the officers of the licensing department of K-East ward, visited the site, to pull down the same. Patel's supporters reached the spot and obstructed/interfered the work.

He said that they snatched the camera used by officials to record the removal of the hoardings and have yet returned it. Moreover, when officials asked them to refrain from interfering in official duty, they were assaulted and threatened with dire consequences. The officers of the corporation had to be rushed to hospital after the incident.

Patel's advocate argued that a case for contempt is not made out as a criminal case has already been filed by the police. Since the facts of the case are similar, it would amount to double jeopardy. To this, the bench said, "Minimum we expect from you is to say that this will not happen again. That you will request your senior party leaders to issue directions to party workers, not to put up illegal hoardings. You and the party needs to make citizens and your voters aware of the high court order, banning putting up of illegal hoardings."

The court also took into consideration the fact that a license inspector of the BMC had filed the contempt petition and even suggested that it would grant him police protection.

Hooliganism

• Complaints were being made by locals about illegal hoardings 
• When civic officers tried to pull down the hoardings, they were obstructed
• Their cameras were snatched and they were threatened by the supporters of the accused