Mira Bhayandar: More than four hours after being snubbed by Supreme Court Judge  Justice Abhay Oka for allowing unauthorized banners to come up in the region, the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) woke up from its slumber and started removing the eyesores on Saturday evening.

Justice Abhay Oka's Statement

“I was happy to see huge hoardings and banners displayed on the way highlighting the inaugural ceremony of the court in Mira Road. However, my happiness was short-lived after observing that display material had been installed illegally. It is the Bombay High Court that has passed an order restricting installation of unauthorized banners. Installing illegal banners to publicize the inauguration of a court is not a welcome sign,” said Justice Abhay Oka while addressing the gathering at the inauguration ceremony of the Judicial Magistrate First-Class (JMFC) and Civil Judge (junior division) court in the Hatkesh area of Mira Road. 

As many as 182 illegal banners/hoardings mostly pinned on trees and tied to electric light poles were removed by the anti-encroachment team and hawker removal squad attached to ward number 3 and 4 on Saturday evening, said officials who claimed that 90 illegally installed banners had been removed on the eve of the inauguration ceremony. 

Based on a complaint filed by civic officials, two FIR’s under section 3 of the Maharashtra Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1995 was registered at the Mira Road and Kashigaon police stations. The act clearly states that defacing a public place is punishable with imprisonment, fine, or both. 

In their statements to the police, the complainants said that Rajaram Ninave who has been listed as accused in both the FIR’s had applied for permission to install the banners on 7, March which was rejected by the MBMC.

“The banners have been removed and a show cause notice has been issued to the concerned ward officer,” confirmed Deputy Municipal Commissioner Kalpita Pimple. However, neither the political leaders whose photographs appeared on the banners, nor the printers and publishers faced any kind of action.