By IANS
New Delhi : Politicians of all hues – including, ironically, the urban development minister – are unhappy over the Delhi government’s proposal to levy fines of up to Rs.50,000 on those defacing walls in the capital with posters and graffiti.
The Delhi government made this proposal in the Delhi High Court when public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Monika Arora, a lawyer, three years ago came up for hearing last week. It has promised the court that it will bring in legislation and have the requisite law in force.
Till now the West Bengal Prevention of Defacement of Property Act has been used in Delhi to penalise those who deface walls by putting up posters on public and private properties. This law imposes a maximum fine of Rs.1,000 and a minimum of Rs.100. The political parties manage to get away with Rs.100 as fine most of the time.
However, the proposed law has many politicians fuming. While many were quite frank in condemning it off the record, those who spoke were restrained and discreet.
Some of the leaders were hoping that the bill would not pass muster. “First let the crime be committed (let the law come into force), then we will see,” said S. Jaipal Reddy, urban development minister whose brief ironically is to ensure better development of cities.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), though prompt in its reply, condemned it saying such a law would be an infringement on the democratic rights of the people.
“In a democratic set-up this is not possible. It is better if the parties themselves practise self-restraint and not deface public property than having a dictatorial order imposed on them,” said BJP spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.
He had no comments to make when informed that disfiguring and defacement of public property carried stiff penalty, including jail, in cities all over the world, including in the biggest democracies.
Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal had similar views. “You either make (allot) place for political parties to put up posters or allow the present arrangement to continue,” he said.
The parties should understand their responsibility and not damage public property, he, however, added.
But Sibal did not agree that the new legislation would be undemocratic. “Democracy is not rule without regulation. A balance is required. You cannot flout the norms and at the same time argue against legislation,” he said.
The increasing number of posters on city walls has become an eyesore for citizens. Political parties do not spare even the walls of private property and establishments. And with elections – assembly as well as parliamentary – around the corner local authorities and citizens often end up fighting a losing battle for clean walls and an aesthetic city environment.
Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), which is perhaps the biggest culprit when it comes to pasting of party posters on Delhi walls, is obviously against the order.
His younger brother and party MP Ram Chander Paswan stated, “The fine is very heavy. But the amount is not the main issue. The person (read party) putting up the poster does not think of the fine. There are other aspects to it.”
BJP’s Delhi unit chief Harsh Vardhan threw a challenge at the Congress for planning such legislation. “If the government implements this rule the BJP will be the first party, and I will be the first person, to remove all hoardings and posters from the city.
“However, the Congress should also abide by this direction, especially their chief Sonia Gandhi. She should remove her hoardings put up on hundreds of roads.”
Bahujan Samaj Party leader and Rajya Sabha member Ambeth Rajan was the lone voice welcoming this order. “Both the order and the heavy fine are correct. A mistake is a mistake, and the guilty should be penalised,” he said, endorsing the local authorities’ move.