Graffiti galore: SC tells KMC to submit details of ‘illegal billboards’ in 15 days
KCB says certain hoardings installed by the armed forces without their permission.
KMC’s report said that no illegal billboards existed within its jurisdiction. DESIGN: ESSA MALIK
KARACHI:
The Supreme Court (SC) ordered on Saturday the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) authorities to submit details of illegal outdoor advertisement boards set up in various parts of the city and what action was initiated against the violators.
A two-member bench, comprising justices Amir Hani Muslim and Qazi Faiz Isa, was hearing a case regarding outdoor billboards and wall chalking at the SC Karachi Registry Branch.
The apex court had, on February 26, 2014, directed the Karachi Cantonment Board (KCB) and the KMC to submit details of all illegally installed hoardings and signboards within the cantonment board’s jurisdiction in a month. During Saturday’s proceedings, KMC’s lawyer Syed Jamil Ahmed and the KCB’s chief executive officer, M Hayat Meher, filed the compliance reports.
The judges found out that the KCB report specifically identifies the hoardings that have been installed with the permission of the cantonment board.
Meher explained that certain hoardings were installed by the armed forces without the permission of the cantonment board. Subsequently, the bench issued a notice to the deputy attorney general to file comments on behalf of the armed forces.
KMC’s report said that no illegal billboards existed within its jurisdiction and added that they remove the ones found violating their bylaws. The judges noted that by no stretch of the imagination can the aforesaid be termed a report in terms of the order dated February 26, 2014. They observed that “almost a year has expired since the aforesaid order was passed but still compliance has not been made herewith”.
They issued a notice to the relevant personnel, the administrator and the KMC directors for ‘wilful non-compliance’ of the court order and for their failure to submit the required report to show why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them. The apex court summoned all these officers in person with a written explanation.
Meanwhile, the bench directed the KMC to provide details of the number of hoardings that are legally affixed in the city within 15 days.
It will also give details of the date the licences were given to advertisers, the amount paid, etc. The report will also contain photographs of the hoardings but, if there are too many of those, then to submit the photos in a flash drive.
The apex court ordered that a report should also be filed regarding the slogans painted on public walls, bridges and other public structures and action, if any, taken against the transgressors.
The hearing was adjourned till the next session at the SC Karachi Registry.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 8th, 2015.
The Supreme Court (SC) ordered on Saturday the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) authorities to submit details of illegal outdoor advertisement boards set up in various parts of the city and what action was initiated against the violators.
A two-member bench, comprising justices Amir Hani Muslim and Qazi Faiz Isa, was hearing a case regarding outdoor billboards and wall chalking at the SC Karachi Registry Branch.
The apex court had, on February 26, 2014, directed the Karachi Cantonment Board (KCB) and the KMC to submit details of all illegally installed hoardings and signboards within the cantonment board’s jurisdiction in a month. During Saturday’s proceedings, KMC’s lawyer Syed Jamil Ahmed and the KCB’s chief executive officer, M Hayat Meher, filed the compliance reports.
The judges found out that the KCB report specifically identifies the hoardings that have been installed with the permission of the cantonment board.
Meher explained that certain hoardings were installed by the armed forces without the permission of the cantonment board. Subsequently, the bench issued a notice to the deputy attorney general to file comments on behalf of the armed forces.
KMC’s report said that no illegal billboards existed within its jurisdiction and added that they remove the ones found violating their bylaws. The judges noted that by no stretch of the imagination can the aforesaid be termed a report in terms of the order dated February 26, 2014. They observed that “almost a year has expired since the aforesaid order was passed but still compliance has not been made herewith”.
They issued a notice to the relevant personnel, the administrator and the KMC directors for ‘wilful non-compliance’ of the court order and for their failure to submit the required report to show why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them. The apex court summoned all these officers in person with a written explanation.
Meanwhile, the bench directed the KMC to provide details of the number of hoardings that are legally affixed in the city within 15 days.
It will also give details of the date the licences were given to advertisers, the amount paid, etc. The report will also contain photographs of the hoardings but, if there are too many of those, then to submit the photos in a flash drive.
The apex court ordered that a report should also be filed regarding the slogans painted on public walls, bridges and other public structures and action, if any, taken against the transgressors.
The hearing was adjourned till the next session at the SC Karachi Registry.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 8th, 2015.