Bengaluru's Hoarding Headache: Commissioner Declares All Displays Illegal

Well, folks, the message from Bengaluru's City Police Commissioner, B Dayananda, couldn't be clearer, or frankly, more stark. He’s gone on record, without a shadow of a doubt, declaring that virtually every single hoarding currently gracing our city's landscape—be it for political grandstanding, commercial advertisements, religious messages, or even those heartfelt personal greetings—is, quite simply, illegal. This isn't just a minor administrative detail; it’s a direct slap in the face to existing High Court orders and established BBMP guidelines. It really makes you wonder how we got to this point, doesn't it?

Now, if you're experiencing a bit of déjà vu, you're certainly not alone. The saga of Bengaluru's hoardings has been, for lack of a better word, a prolonged one. Cast your mind back to 2018, and you might recall the then BBMP Commissioner, N Manjunath Prasad, actually slapping a comprehensive, blanket ban on all such displays. It was a pretty definitive move at the time, aimed at decluttering our visual space.

But as is often the case, the plot thickened. The High Court eventually stepped into the fray. While acknowledging the absolute necessity for proper regulation, the court did clarify that hoardings could potentially be allowed again. However, and this is the crucial part, this would only happen after the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had painstakingly drafted and implemented new by-laws and rules to meticulously govern their installation. And here’s the kicker: until those new regulations are officially in place and formally adopted, the original ban, by all accounts, effectively remains. So, if you spot a hoarding today, it’s fundamentally operating outside the legal framework.

Commissioner Dayananda, speaking to reporters, really didn't mince his words. He made it abundantly clear that if the BBMP drags its feet and fails to take swift action to dismantle these unlawful structures, then the police force will, without hesitation, step in and get the job done themselves. And it's not just about removal; he issued a stern warning that First Information Reports (FIRs) would be filed against those deemed responsible. He even went so far as to suggest that BBMP officials could face legal repercussions if they neglect their duty to enforce these rules. Talk about putting the pressure on!

What's particularly striking about this declaration is its sheer breadth. It's not merely targeting the colossal, brightly lit commercial billboards we often see. Even those smaller, ubiquitous flex banners, frequently put up by individuals to wish local politicians a happy birthday or congratulate them on some achievement, are caught squarely in this legal dragnet. They are, every single one of them, equally non-compliant. It truly seems that no one gets a free pass here.

It's worth noting that back in March, the current BBMP Commissioner, Tushar Giri Nath, had indeed mentioned that a draft bylaw pertaining to outdoor advertising had been submitted to the government for its much-needed approval. However, quite evidently, that approval hasn't yet translated into a new, enforceable framework. Until it does, the current legal standing dictates that these visual intrusions are simply not permitted. It’s a tough stance, no doubt, but perhaps a vital one for safeguarding our city's aesthetic appeal and, frankly, its legal integrity.