IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CWP No. 15578 of 2008 Date of Decision: 15.09.2010 Anti Corruption & Crime Investigation Cell (Regd.) ...Petitioner Versus State of Punjab and others ..Respondents. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MUKUL MUDGAL, CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AJAY TEWARI. 1. Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment ? 2. Whether to be referred to the Reporters or not ? 3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest? Present : Mr. Raman Sharma, Advocate, for the petitioner. Mr. Rupinder Khosla, Addl. A.G. Punjab for respondents No.1, 2 and 4. Mr. Ishtbir Singh Sidhu, Advocate, for respondent No.3. **** MUKUL MUDGAL, C.J.(Oral) 1. This PIL raises issues of displaying illegal hoarding and collection of fee as well as fine imposed for displaying unauthorised illegal hoarding by the Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana . 2. Upon notice, respondents No.1 and 4 and respondent No.3 have filed their replies, respectively. Respondent No.3 in its reply has stated as follows:- “5. That in reply to para No. 5, it is submitted that the application of the petitioner allegedly filed under the RTI Act, 2005 has since been disposed of in due course. It is further submitted here that separate advertisement wing has been set up in all the four Zonal Offices of the CWP No. 15578 of 2008 [2] answering Corporation which is headed by a Superintendent. The Corporation officials daily take surprise round of different parts of the city and whatever hoarding or any other advertising material is found illegally displayed, the same is removed instantaneously. It is, however, a matter of fact that companies/individual do display illegal hoarding and attempts are however foiled by the checking staff. 6. That the contents of para No. 6 are wrong and incorrect, therefore, denied. Answering respondent has duly maintained its record of the sanctions accorded for display of advertisement through different modes such as unipoles, kiosks, bus-shelters, OHRS, advertisement on moving vehicles. Further, Municipal Corporation has earned revenue of app. Rupees Three Crore during the financial year of 2007-08. All out efforts have been made to increase the revenue by regularly checking the illegally installed hoarding. Action taken by Municipal Corporation staff against the unauthorized display of advertising material is often published in all leading news papers.” 3. We are of the view that the aforesaid averments of the respondents are sufficient to dispel the grievances raised in the petition. However, Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana is directed to continue removal of illegal hoarding, maintaining the record of collection of fine, if any and imposition of taxes etc. as per the bye- laws of the Corporation and supply information to the interested parties under the Right to Information Act as and when sought. With these observations, this petition stands disposed of. (MUKUL MUDGAL) CHIEF JUSTICE (AJAY TEWARI) 15.09.2010 JUDGE 'ravinder'