Bidhannagar ordered to remove 2,500 illegal hoardings in 48 hours by Calcutta High Court

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday reaffirmed its earlier directive, ordering the removal of over 2,500 illegal hoardings from the Bidhannagar-Salt Lake area within 48 hours of receiving notice. Justice Harish Tandon’s bench made it clear that all unauthorized hoardings must be dismantled immediately. The court's order applies to hoardings that do not comply with the necessary regulations, including those that lack proper permissions or violate urban planning laws.

The case arose from a public interest litigation filed by lawyer Dibayan Bandopadhyay, who brought attention to the widespread illegal hoardings in the Bidhannagar area. Many of these hoardings were installed without following the required procedures, leading to concerns over safety, urban aesthetics, and adherence to advertising norms. The High Court had earlier ordered that illegal hoardings be removed within 48 hours of notice, a ruling that was upheld by the bench on Tuesday.

In response to the High Court’s order, a hoarding agency approached the Supreme Court, seeking additional time to comply with the directive. However, the Supreme Court rejected the request and sent the matter back to the High Court for implementation. Authorities in Bidhannagar are now required to remove all illegal hoardings within the 48-hour window and submit a compliance report to the Chief Justice by January 9, 2024.