PANAJI
The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Monday sought a fresh, jurisdiction-wise exercise to identify illegal hoardings put up along the State and national highways.
During the hearing of a suo motu Public Interest Litigation, the Bench directed the authorities to place on record details of structures that continue to remain despite action against unauthorized advertisements.
Likewise, the respondent authorities and Amicus Curiae have been asked to prepare a comprehensive inventory covering village panchayats, municipal councils and municipal corporations, supported by photographs of offending hoardings.
The visual record is intended to enable the Court to pass structure-specific directions for removal and fix responsibility where the concerned authorities have failed to act.
The Court specifically referred to areas under village panchayats at Old Goa, Chimbel, Sancoale and Chicalim, as well as municipal jurisdictions including the Mormugao Municipal Council.
While adjourning the matter for next month, the Bench further made it clear that concerned local bodies must be given notice through their counsel before any sweeping removal orders are considered, so that the directions can be implemented promptly.
