Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has not taken any action against advertisement hoardings along the highways within its right of way, according to the Bombay High Court in Goa.
Similarly, orders for the removal of hoardings under their jurisdiction have only been partially followed by other authorities.
Judges M. S. Karnik and Valmiki Menezes, sitting on the Division Bench, noted that the hoardings falling under the jurisdiction of MoRTH are unquestionably within the right of way during the hearing of a suo motu writ petition and public interest litigation concerning illegal hoardings.
“It is obvious that the hoardings on the national highways in Goa that we are concerned about are within the right of way. The Bench observed in the petition with more than 200 respondents that “it appears that no action has been taken by the Ministry to ensure that the Right of way on National Highways within the State of Goa is kept clear of advertisement hoardings within its right of way.”
The MoRTH was represented by senior counsel Pravin Faldessai, who stated that the Chief Engineers of PWD (Highways), Goa will file an affidavit outlining the steps to be taken in order to remove all advertisement hoardings from National Highways within the right-of-way in Goa. By July 21, 2024, the affidavit is anticipated to be filed.
Additionally, he told the court that on September 7, 2016, the Ministry sent a letter to all Chief Engineers of PWD in different states, including Goa, directing them to make sure that advertisements on hoardings on National Highways that are within the right-of-way are removed.
The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP), a different respondent, stated that it has taken down 41 of the 64 hoardings that were listed in the petition. However, two appeals concerning the hoardings’ demolition notices are still pending before the Secretary of Urban Development as of February 2024. Therefore, the Department has been asked to make a decision on the appeals within a month.