HC to Karnataka govt: Ensure rural local bodies also act against illegal ads and defacing of public places

BENGALURU: In order to ensure that village , taluk and zilla panchayats also act against illegal advertisements on the lines of BBMP and other urban local bodies, the high court on Thursday directed the state government to issue necessary directions to these bodies within a month.
A division bench headed by chief justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka has directed the state government to issue directions to these bodies by exercizing pwers under section 316(3) of Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj Act, 1993.The model by-laws were notified in 2013 itself.
During the hearing, the court was informed that necessary directions have been issued for enforcing provisions of Karnataka Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement ) Act, (KOPD Act)1981 in city corporations including BBMP, city Mucipal Councils , Town Muncipal Councils and Town Panchayats and the same have come into force from January 14,2020,
The court was further told that DG & IGP has instructed the police register FIRs under the KOPD Act as and when they receive complaint or report regarding violation.Recording the said statement, the court has posted the PILs for further consideration on February 26.