Govt okays policy on removal of illegal ads, hoardings

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 3

In view of the election Model Code of Conduct in place, the five urban local bodies of the national capital have been given compounding powers by "competent authority" to remove various defacements as per the Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property (DPDP) Act, 2007, under a special drive within 24 hours.

The Urban Development Department (UDD) of the Delhi government has also prepared a policy on removal of unauthorised advertisements/hoardings and initiated the enforcement of the Act with the approval of competent authority.

The policy has been circulated to all government departments with the set of guidelines for removal of defacement.

A Committee of Officers under Principal Secretary (UD) set up in compliance of the orders of the Delhi High Court has framed the policy after discussions held during two meetings last month.

The policy has been filed in the High Court in the matter of Col Shivraj Kumar versus South Delhi Municipal Corporation and Others.

The committee met twice in last month and had detailed discussion on the legal provisions, and present executive/enforcement action mechanism, as per a government official. Chaired the Principal Secretary (Urban Secretary), the committee comprises commissioners of South, North and East Municipal Corporation, Secretary of the NDMC, Chief Executive Officer of the Delhi Cantonment Board, Additional Secretary (Law and Justice), Principal Chief Engineer (PWD) and Deputy Commissioner of the Delhi Police as other members.

Under this, the capital's urban local bodies - the municipal corporations, New Delhi Municipal Council and Delhi Cantonment Board - are supposed to finalise the details of authorised sites and prepare a policy, detailing out terms and conditions, within two months after completion of 2019 general election.

Public places will be identified by urban local bodies for displaying messages of political and social nature with three sites per municipal ward, said a government official. Any other site other than these would be unauthorised under Act and should be removed within 24 hours.

The names of the violators and the contact details of officers responsible for the removal of the unauthorised advertisement/defacement in respective jurisdiction will be made public so that individual responsibility can be fixed.