MP High Court Issues Notice On PIL Against Illegal Hoardings On Road Dividers & Footpaths
The Madhya Pradesh High Court, on Friday (October 23), issued notice to the State Government in a public interest litigation seeking action against the Indore Municipal Corporation for allowing the installation of illegal hoardings on road dividers and footpaths in the city.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Alpesh Yeshvant Kogje and Justice Vinay Saraf observed:
"Issue notice to the respondents on payment of PF within seven working days. Notices be made returnable within three weeks".
The petition is filed by two practising advocates seeking directions against the Indore Municipal Corporation to remove allegedly illegal unipoles and hoardings installed at dividers and footpaths across the city. It was argued that said structures violate the MP Outdoor Advertisement Media Rules, 2017 and pose a risk to public safety.
The petition states that around 58 unipoles have been installed on road dividers or medians, while another 45 have been erected on pedestrian footpaths and walkways at various locations.
Emphasizing that such illegal hoardings pose a risk to public safety, the petition referred to a news report by Dainik Bhaskar on September 24, 2026, wherein an allegedly illegal hoarding panel fell at Patnipura Square, affecting two-wheeler riders and pedestrians and leaving one person injured.
Thus, the petition seeks directions for removal of the unipoles and hoardings along with an independent inquiry or audit into revenue collection. The petition also seeks interim directions restraining authorities from permitting any additional unipoles on dividers, footpaths, traffic junctions and other traffic sensitive locations.
The petition also referred to an earlier petition raising a similar issue in which the court, as an interim measure, directed the Indore Municipal Corporation to take action. That plea was later disposed of after the court observed that a committee was formed comprising 22 Zonal Officers, 22 Additional Revenue Inspectors, and staff of the Market Department of IMC to examine the said installations in view of the Rules, 2017.
The Court has now ordered the respondents to submit a report with regards to the action taken in pursuant to the aforesaid direction. "Moreover, will also verify the breaches of rule in installation of Unipoles on the road divider as well as pedestrian footpath walkway in the city of Indore," it said.
For Petitioner: Advocate Abhinav Dhanodkar
For State: Government Advocate Pradyumna Kibe
For IMC: Advocate Shashank Shrivastava