Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a stern directive to the Executive Officer of the Zirakpur Municipal Council to remove all illegal advertisement hoardings, unipoles, and large banners along the Zirakpur-Ambala and Zirakpur-Patiala highways. Presiding over a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Zirakpur-based advocate Arjun Shukla, a Bench headed by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu made it clear on Monday, April 20, 2026, that partial measures would not be tolerated. The court specifically ordered that authorities must dismantle the entire skeletal structures of these illegal billboards, rather than just stripping off the flex sheets.
The petitioner alleged that a massive number of unauthorized hoardings have been installed on the rooftops of shops, residential houses, and commercial buildings, far exceeding the limits set in the municipal council’s original advertising contracts. The PIL highlighted that many of these structures are significantly larger than the legally permissible size and are installed in prohibited zones along the national highways. These illegal installations are not only a violation of the Punjab Municipal Outdoor Advertisement Policy but also pose a severe threat to public safety by distracting motorists and risking structural collapses during storms.
The High Court has directed the Municipal Council’s Executive Officer to ensure a comprehensive cleanup and submit a detailed compliance report, supported by photographs, by the next hearing on May 8, 2026. This order follows previous warnings and a history of safety incidents in the area, including a past storm where collapsing unipoles damaged several vehicles. The Bench emphasized that strict adherence to established legal norms is mandatory to restore the safety and aesthetics of the arterial roads connecting Zirakpur to Patiala, Ambala, and Kalka.
