BJP workers putting up illegal hoardings can be sacked: CM

MUMBAI: A month after the Bombay high court’s stern warning to political parties and their leaders over unauthorised hoardings in the city, the ruling BJP on Saturday issued a statement in the form of an advertisement telling its workers that they would face disciplinary action if they are found involved in putting up illegal hoardings or banners.
The statement, signed by CM Devendra Fadnavis and state BJP president Raosaheb Patil Danve, stated that party office-bearers who flout HC rules in this regard would be suspended or even sacked. The BJP has thus become the first party in the state to issue such a statement in the wake of a series of landmark orders passed by the high court on a public interest litigation filed by Suswarajya Foundation.

The HC had, on August 7, 2016, January 31, 2017 and January 26, 2019, given specific directions to heads of political parties in the matter of illegal and unauthorised banners and hoardings. In fact, during the hearing of the PIL, on January 26, 2019, Justice Abhay Oka and Ajay Gadkari had observed that the court would act against leaders and parties that put up illegal hoardings and banners.

Fadnavis and Danve asked BJP workers across the state to ensure that the orders of the high court are implemented in letter and spirit, failing which the party functionary responsible would face disciplinary action, “may be suspended from the post or even lose membership of the party.”

Further, they made it clear that pictures of the CM and the state BJP president should not be used on any illegal banners or hoardings. “Under no circumstances should any banner or hoarding be put up without the permission of the competent authority. Legal procedure should be followed while putting up flex banners or hoardings. If there is no permission from the competent authority, all such banners and hoardings will be considered illegal. On all legal and authorised banners, the date on which permission has been obtained, along with the designation of the competent authority, should be specifically mentioned,” they said.

They added BJP office-bearers must extend full cooperation to officials who remove illegal banners and never oppose such action.

What line of action other parties will take is still unclear. The biggest challenge before the BMC at the moment seems to be the removal of posters and banners put up by the Congress for party president Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Mumbai on March 1.