Srinagar: The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) will act against all those companies that are indulging in defacement and illegal pasting of advertisements on public and private properties. According to a statement issued to KNS, the SMC has already moved the court to act against the Cemtac Cements, Aircel and Dishnet Wireless Limited that were found indulging in setting up kiosks, small hoardings and wall wraps on private properties without permission of any competent authority.
Municipal magistrate Khursheed-ul-Islam, while taking cognizance, has said prima facie the accused have committed offences under Section 115, 116 and 302 (vi) of the J-K Municipal Corporation Act. “A summon is issued to the accused for their presence before the court on 01, 07. 2014,” directed the magistrate. The SMC in a round of the city limits has observed that big private companies like Airtel, Aircel, Idea and Khyber Cements have painted private and government buildings in an illegal attempt to advertise their respective brands.
It was found that these companies had painted thousands of shop shutters with company logo without prior permission. These advertisements have violated Section 115, 116 and 302 of the J&K Municipal Corporation Act 2003. These companies’ wall paintings on shop fronts are also violation of provisions of J&K Defacement of Public Property Act 1985.
The SMC warns companies against setting up advertisements in violation of advertisement policy sanctioned by the government under which all advertisements are to be carried out with proper permission of the authorities and the SMC, which is assigned to designate hoarding sites in Srinagar city against proper fee. The rampant pasting on one hand has defaced public property and on the other inflicted losses on the SMC to the tune of Rs 4 crore. Several companies did not spare sacred spaces like graveyards and misused the space against the sensibilities of people.
“The SMC has decided to clampdown on such companies indulging in inconvenience to people, defacement of walls and illegal pasting of advertisements. It is incumbent on the companies to show self ethics and stop the practice,” said SMC commissioner Dr G N Qasba.
In case of violations, the SMC is bound to penalize such companies and take stern action, including imprisonment as per the provisions, he added.