Nagpur High Court Issues Strong Warning Over Illegal Hoardings on Footpaths
Nagpur, India: The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court expressed strong concerns on Thursday about the ongoing installation of advertisement hoardings on footpaths. The court warned the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) that it could face contempt of court charges if these violations do not stop.
Justices Nitin Sambre and Vrushali Joshi noted that, despite clear orders banning hoardings on footpaths, the authorities allowed them to be set up at the edges of sidewalks. The judges questioned whether the edge of a footpath is not considered part of the footpath itself.
The issue came up in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Citizen Forum for Equality, led by Madhukar Kukde, with lawyer Tushar Mandlekar representing them. The petition highlighted that the hoardings are causing serious problems for pedestrians, blocking pathways and creating safety hazards.
The judges referred to their earlier rulings, emphasizing that hoardings should not be placed on footpaths, echoing a previous decision by former Justice JN Patel. They also recalled that Supreme Court Judge Bhushan Gavai, who once represented the state, had assured the court that no hoardings would be installed on footpaths.
The court’s warning highlights the importance of ensuring safe and clear pathways for pedestrians in Nagpur.
