One convicted for putting up illegal banners in Kashimira

A First Class Judicial Magistrate (FCJM) court in Thane has convicted and levied a fine on the office bearer of a local mandal for putting up illegal gate banners to welcome devotees outside a housing society in Kashimira during NavratriUtsav in 2015.

In response to a complaint filed by the ward chief in his capacity as the nodal officer for the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC), the Kashimira police had registered a criminal case under section 3 of the Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, Maharashtra, against the accused.

The offence is recognised as a cognisable one under the 1995 Act, making it mandatory for the police to register an FIR against the offenders. Supported by photographic evidences, the investigating team filed a charge sheet against the accused who pleaded guilty and was convicted for putting up banners without taking prior permission from the local civic administration.

The court ordered to pay a fine of Rs 2,000, failing which the convict would have to face 20 days in prison, police said.

In a belated move aimed at putting the brakes on the biggest eyesore’s, the civic administration had passed a resolution to roll-back the system of giving permissions for putting up temporary flex banners and hoardings across all 95 wards across the twin-city from 1, October, 2018.