PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Friday directed the concerned police departments and the Department of Transport to immediately remove vehicles with billboards parked by the side of the road or in the parking places at the junction or at the intersection of the roads or footpaths.
The Court further asked the Police Department and the Department of Transport to file a compliance report on May 10, regarding the removal of such vehicles.
While hearing a suo motu writ petition regarding illegal hoardings, it was informed that there were 91 vehicles registered till date having advertising billboards with digital screens.
Appearing for the All Goa Hoarding Owners Association, Adv Yogesh Nadkarni placed a copy of the registration document issued to a vehicle with an advertising billboard and digital screen.
However, Additional Government Advocate Deep Shirodkar submitted that the circular issued on November 13, 2018, was as per the powers under Section 68 of the Motor Vehicles Act together with the charges of fees for advertisement on transport vehicles. He further assured the Court that the Department of Transport would file a detailed affidavit clarifying the matter while, the Police Department would look into the issue as to whether such mobile vehicles with digital screens having advertisements could be parked permanently on the footpath or side of the road or at the intersection of the road.
But after going through the provisions of Section 68 of the Motor Vehicles Act, the division bench comprising Justice B P Deshpande and Justice Valmiki Menezes doubted whether such separate charges for the vehicles could be carved out for such registered vehicles and also fees and taxes as mentioned in the circular.
During the last hearing, amicus curiae senior advocate S D Lotlikar had pointed out that such vehicles having digital screens for advertisement were parked in the city and mostly at the intersecting roads or parking places or by the side of the roads, thereby blocking such places.
The main matter will be heard on June 14.
