Rohtak MLA warns of FIR over private hoardings at govt sites

Congress MLA from Rohtak, Bharat Bhushan Batra, has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the district administration to remove hoardings of private individuals from sites belonging to the Haryana Government’s Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) in Rohtak city.

Addressing mediapersons in Rohtak on Tuesday, Batra said if the hoardings were not removed within the stipulated time, the District Congress Committee (DCC) would file an FIR against the individuals involved as well as the district officials responsible for the installation of the hoardings.

Batra was accompanied by former Haryana Home Minister Subhash Batra, District Congress (Urban) president Kuldeep Singh, District Congress (Rural) president Balwan Ranga and other senior Congress leaders.

He noted DIPR sites are designated for communicating official information to the public, such as visits by the Prime Minister or Chief Minister and announcements related to welfare schemes and government policies.

“However, hoardings celebrating the birthday of the son of local BJP leader and former state minister Manish Grover have been put up at two such sites in Rohtak city,” Batra alleged. “This is a cognisable offence and a gross violation of the Haryana Prevention of Defacement of Property Act.”

He further held the local Civil Surgeon and the District Information and Public Relations Officer accountable, stating that the lapse amounted to a breach of official protocol.

The Congress leader said he would write to senior state authorities to draw their attention to the matter. Supporting the demand, former Home Minister Subhash Batra urged the state government and the district administration to take serious note of the incident and initiate appropriate legal action.