Sitting amid the blackened remains of his home, 32-year-old Nikesh Gawali carefully broke open a half-melted plastic box with a screwdriver. His hands shook slightly, not out of fear, but out of hope. “I’m trying to find my daughter Aarti’s gold earrings,” he said quietly, still focused on the box. “She’s just five. I got them made recently after months of labour work.” The plastic box, warped and blackened by heat, was one of the few things left from his two-room house on the outskirts of Dhamangaon village . All around him lay ash, broken tin sheets and charred wooden beams. The walls had cracked under the heat and the front room’s tin roof had caved in completely. What remained was a blackened debris all around - almost nothing to suggest a home once stood there. Nikesh earns his living as an agricultural labourer, like many in the village. Work is uncertain and depends on the season. Those earrings weren’t just jewellery - they were a small dream, a reward for his hard work,...
The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court was informed by Municipal Commissioner Dr Vipin Itankar that show cause notices have been issued to all Assistant Municipal Commissioners for failing to curb illegal hoardings and banners across the city.
Filing an additional affidavit in a contempt petition moved by Dinesh Chandrakant Naidu, in the High Court, the Commissioner stated that the Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Revenue), who heads the Advertisement Department, issued notices on March 12, 2026, to Assistant Commissioners and Ward Officers of all 10 zones for “dereliction in discharge of statutory duties.”
The affidavit was submitted in compliance with the High Court’s order dated April 27, seeking details on action taken against officials and implementation of earlier directions to remove illegal hoardings.
Dr Itankar informed the court that 131 show cause notices have been issued to individuals responsible for putting up illegal hoardings after December 12, 2025. However, in 807 cases, notices could not be served due to lack of traceable addresses.
He further stated that as per earlier court rulings, the responsibility to remove illegal hoardings lies with Ward Officers and Assistant Commissioners. Despite deployment of zonal and central flying squads, the civic body acknowledged lapses in enforcement.
The affidavit also mentioned that the corporation is considering camera-mounted patrol vehicles to detect illegal installations, especially during night hours and has sought police cooperation for registering FIRs against offenders.
The matter is part of ongoing contempt proceedings in which the High Court has repeatedly expressed concern over continued violations despite strict orders. Adv Tushar Mandlekar appeared for the petitioner.
Camera-mounted patrol to detect illegal hoardings
The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) also informed the court that it is planning to deploy camera-mounted patrol vehicles across the city to detect illegal hoardings and banners in real time. These vehicles will continuously monitor different areas, especially during night hours when such installations usually take place. The live recording will help officials quickly identify violations and take immediate action for removal. The system is aimed at strengthening enforcement and ensuring better accountability of field officers. The civic body also expects that video evidence collected through these patrols will support legal action against offenders and help in controlling the growing menace effectively.
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