With city walls plastered with posters and graffiti by student unions ahead of DUSU elections, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC) is set to initiate prosecutory charges against those defacing the city.
With DUSU elections just three weeks away, several areas in the city, particularly those surrounding North Campus, have been marred by illegal posters. Officials said beneficiaries — individuals or organisations — will be prosecuted under Delhi Defacement Act for affixing posters in public places. It invites a maximum penalty of Rs 50,000 or six months’ jail or both. DUSU polls are scheduled for September 13.
PK Gupta, NMC Commi-ssioner, in a recent review meeting, said all steps would be taken to ensure there was no defacement of public property. “The Municipal Commissioner would start a prosecution drive against individuals and student bodies found pasting up posters without proper authorisation and in direct violation of the Delhi Defacement Act,” said Yogender Singh Maan, Director (Press and Information), NMC.
Officials said they would start registering complaints against said violators. From the walls of flyovers and public toilets to subways and bus stops across the city, more so North and South Campus, all public properties have been papered over with the posters of prospective ticket seekers beseeching students to join the ranks of ABVP or NSUI.
“These posters are an eyesore and fall under the category of organised litter,” said an NMC official. “Under the Delhi Defacement Act, if anyone is found putting up posters on public property, a case would be registered in the name of the concerned individual or organisation. The FIR could then lead to a penalty charge of up to Rs 50,000 or incarceration of six months or both,” said Maan.