MP High Court Directs Indore Municipal Corporation To Take Action Against Illegal Hoardings On Road Dividers & Footpaths

The Madhya Pradesh High Court, as an interim measure, on Tuesday (March 17) directed the Indore Municipal Corporation to take action against illegal hoardings installed on road dividers and footpaths in the city. The court was hearing a PIL raising concerns over the illegal installation of hoardings. Issuing notice on the PIL, a division bench of Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla and Justice Alok Awasthi observed, "Notice be made returnable within four weeks. As an interim measure, it is directed that the respondent No.3 / Commissioner, Indore Municipal Corporation will find out the hoardings which are installed on the divider or on the footpath contrary to the rules and will take action in accordance with the law". The PIL raised concerns regarding the violation of the MP Outdoor Advertisement Media Rules 2017, which govern the installation and regulation of hoardings and unipoles. The main contention in the petition relates to the alleged non-compliance with the tender conditions issued through Notices Inviting Tender in 2019 and 2020. The petition claims that contractors failed to adhere to mandatory terms, while authorities failed to enforce compliance. The petition claims that despite Rule 28, which prohibits the installation of hoardings on road medians and footpaths in the interest of public safety, several hoardings were reportedly installed in prohibited areas, posing a risk to pedestrians and motorists. The petition further states that despite the tenders being issued in 2019 and 2020 based on revenue calculations, the contracts were awarded much later, extending up to 7 years, without revising rates. This resulted in significant revenue loss to the municipal corporation.In the hearing, the counsel for the petitioner relied on photographic evidence purportedly showing hoardings erected on dividers and footpaths, reiterating that such installations are impermissible under the Rules. The matter is next listed in April. Case Title: Sudesh Gupta v The State of Madhya Pradesh [WP-46800-2025]For Petitioner: Advocate Abhinav Dhanodkar For State: Government Advocate Amit Bhatia Click here to read/download the Order

MP High Court Directs Indore Municipal Corporation To Take Action Against Illegal Hoardings On Road Dividers & Footpaths

Jayanti Pahwa

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