Restore hoardings, directs Court

Restore hoardings, directs Court
DH News Service, Bangalore:
The High Court on Friday directed the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to restore all the hoardings installed by Star Advertisers, which were removed during the Palikes drive to clear illegal hoardings.

Hearing a petition by Star Advertisers, Justice H V G Ramesh levied a cost of Rs 10,000 on the BBMP. The Court ruled that the cost levied should be deducted from the salaries of the BBMP officials responsible for the removal.
The money should be paid to the Legal Services Authority. The petitioner had bagged the contract to install advertising hoardings below the flyovers, when Bangalore Development Authority had called for tenders on November 23, 2006.

On BOOT basis, the firm was awarded five years’ contract to install hoardings below Hebbal flyover, Dairy Circle and Anand Rao circle.These were removed by BBMP during their drive on August 8, 2008.
The petitioners contended that the firm had spent over Rs three crore to bag the contract, for installation and for landscaping of the junctions and said that they have incurred a loss of Rs 15 lakh by the action of the BBMP.
They sought directions to the respondents not to interfere in their business. The Court on hearing the matter has directed BBMP to restore hoardings.