In a move to bring awareness among people to vote on April 30, the district election commission, SAS Nagar, has illegally put up nearly 250 hoardings in various parts of the town.
Though the election commission is taking stern action against violators for putting up illegal hoardings of political par ties and has recently registered two cases under the Representation of People Act, 1951, against the Congress and Akali Dal, what about their hoardings?
Out of total 60 tendered sites in SAS Nagar, the SAD-BJP has put up their political advertisements on 18 sites, the Congress has used six, 25 of these sites have commercial displays and eight are lying vacant, as election commission has just put up their awareness hoardings at three sites.
The cost of one site ranges from ` 60,000 to ` 1 lakh per month de pending upon t he location.
The district election commission has put up nearly 250 hoardings illegally at every nook and corner of the city. Some of them are hanged on electricity poles, walls of houses, near parks and markets.
Speaking to HT, additional deputy commissioner (general) Parveen Kumar Thind said, “Around 250 hoardings have been erected to bring awareness among masses. However, as far as illegality of hoardings is concerned, the MC officials advised us to use the place, where no inconvenience is created. Moreover, it is matter of few days, we will remove them after April 30.”
{{/usCountry}}Speaking to HT, additional deputy commissioner (general) Parveen Kumar Thind said, “Around 250 hoardings have been erected to bring awareness among masses. However, as far as illegality of hoardings is concerned, the MC officials advised us to use the place, where no inconvenience is created. Moreover, it is matter of few days, we will remove them after April 30.”
{{/usCountry}}When contacted, MC commissioner Uma Shankar Gupta said, “It is for the social objective and not for commercial use. We cannot put up hoardings on tendered sites as the administration does not have budget for such things.”
WHAT THE RULE SAYS
Representation of People Act, 1951, says that any person violating the act shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to ` 2,000, or with both.