MPOst Bureau
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed all municipal corporations in Maharashtra to file affidavits by October 9 disclosing the names of politicians who are involved in erecting pandals without permission for Ganesh Chaturthi festival beginning Thursday.
Hearing a batch of PILs filed by social activist Mahesh Bedekar and others, a Bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka asked the corporations to issue <g data-gr-id="19">show-cause</g> notice to such illegal pandals.
The municipal bodies were also asked to collect the names and other particulars of the pandal organisers so that action could be taken against them.
During the course of the hearing, the judges were informed that prominent politicians were allegedly involved in erecting such pandals and the civic bodies were reluctant to take action against them as they were <g data-gr-id="15">influencial</g> and would thwart attempts to demolish the structures.
The judges, however, asked the civic bodies to disclose the names of such politicians who are involved in erecting pandals without permission.
Hearing the same matter yesterday, the judges had threatened to take contempt action against political parties, trusts and organisations which set up pandals during festivals without securing permission and those who flouted noise pollution rules.