New Delhi: The Municipal Corporation of
Delhi (MCD) has instructed its officials to lodge FIRs against
those who put up hoardings and banners illegally in the city
during Diwali.
The civic body instructed its Zonal Deputy Commissioners
to submit an action report by October 31 on removing illegal
hoardings, banners and posters and lodging FIRs against
offenders, an MCD spokesperson said.
"Zonal Deputy Commissioners have been instructed to issue
appropriate directions to their respective staff to ensure
that no unauthorised poster or banner is allowed to be put up
on the walls. Instructions have also been issued to take
immediate action for removal of these illegal publicity
materials and also lodge FIRs against the offenders," he said.
The civic body said it has taken serious note of illegal
hoardings and banners in various parts of the city under its
jurisdiction and has decided to remove them.
The instructions have also been issued for not allowing
new banners and posters on walls and deface properties in
public view, he said, adding action will be taken against the
offenders under Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act
which came into force in March 2009.
According to the Act, defacement of properties or walls is
a cognisable offence and those guilty shall be punishable with
imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with
fine which may extend to Rs 50,000 or both.
Prior to this, West Bengal Prevention of Defacement of
Property Act 1976 was applicable to such offences in which the
punishment for such offences was imprisonment for a term
which may extend to six months or fine, which may extend to Rs
1000 or both.
"These provisions were not having deterrent effect on the
persons/agencies causing defacement of properties. Thus, the
government formulated its own Act with more stringent
provisions to discourage defacement of properties in public
view," the spokesperson said.
PTI
