Karnataka High Court Seeks Action Taken Report On Illegal LED Hoardings In Bengaluru; Says Any Regularisation Subject To Its Orders

The Karnataka High Court on Monday directed the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to file a report detailing the action taken against allegedly illegal LED hoardings in Bengaluru, while making it clear that any regularisation of such hoardings would remain subject to the outcome of the pending public interest litigation (PIL) challenging their legality.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice K.S Hemalekha passed the order while hearing a PIL filed by Bengaluru resident K. Laxmana, who has challenged the Greater Bengaluru Area (Advertisement) Rules, 2025, alleging that they facilitate the regularisation of illegal self-LED hoardings and their conversion into commercial advertisements.

When the matter was taken up, counsel for the petitioner submitted that self-LED hoardings displaying commercial advertisements are illegal and alleged that such advertisements continue to be displayed across the city, including on school premises, without any action by the GBA.

GBA requested one week to obtain instructions in the matter and meanwhile informed the Court that the new advertisement regulations would come into force immediately.

However, the Bench orally observed, “…Whatever regularisation is subject to the Court's order…”.

Clarifying the position in its order, the Court stated, “…Any regularisation of any illegal hoarding will be subject to the orders passed by this Court in the present petition.”

The Court directed the GBA to place on record the action taken pursuant to its earlier order dated June 18, 2026, against illegal hoardings. It further directed that the report should specifically indicate whether any illegal hoardings have been regularised so far, clarifying that any such regularisation would remain subject to the Court's final decision in the PIL.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on October 13, 2026.

The PIL challenges Rule 8(7)(vii) of the Greater Bengaluru Area (Advertisement) Rules, 2025, which introduces a One-Time Opportunity (OTO) Scheme permitting the conversion of self-LED hoardings into commercial advertisements. The petitioner contends that the provision seeks to legitimise illegal hoardings despite the absence of statutory approvals and pending advertisement tax arrears.

The petition also seeks directions restraining the authorities from issuing permissions for self-LED hoardings and from allowing their conversion into commercial hoardings under the OTO Scheme. It further seeks a declaration that permissions granted without the approval of the Chief Commissioner under the BBMP Act, 2020 are void ab initio and prays for the removal of existing illegal LED hoardings.

The PIL traces the regulatory history of outdoor advertisements in Bengaluru, pointing out that the BBMP Council had banned commercial hoardings in 2018 owing to concerns relating to traffic safety, visual pollution and urban aesthetics. It also refers to earlier attempts to legalise commercial hoardings through subordinate legislation, which were subsequently withdrawn following public opposition and court intervention.

It is pertinent to note here that the Karnataka High Court had taken cognisance of loss of lives due to illegal hoardings and issued contempt notices to BBMP and Police Commissioners in July 2024. The court had then noted that there were 6.8 lakh illegal advertisements in Bengaluru based on a news report from Times of India.

Advocate Anirudh A Kulkarni along with Vasista Ramprasad appeared for the petitioner.

Case Title: K. Laxmana v State of Karnataka & Ors.

Case No: WP 6767/2026