Inform people about penalties for public property defacement: HC

New Delhi, Nov 28 : The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the city government and other authorities to ensure that a proper awareness campaign on the lines of the "Swachh Bharat Abhiyan" is conducted to inform people about the penalties for defacement of public property.

The court pulled up the Centre, Delhi government and the Delhi Metro for failing to take action against the offenders on the "serious issue" of defacement.

The court asked the authorities to launch an awareness campaign across Delhi, informing the public about punishments for the acts of defacement through electronic and print media and other mediums.

It asked the government, civic agencies and students, who won the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) elections, to roll out an action plan to prevent defacing of public buildings during poll campaigns.

Advocate Aman Panwar, appearing for DUSU President Rocky Tuseed, told the court that it was their "moral responsibility" to clean up and they had started a cleanliness drive.

To this, the court asked all the candidates to carry out a cleaning drive across Delhi and to also involve various other authorities, including NGO Aga Khan Trust, to beautify the defacement through art work acceptable to Delhiites.

The court also asked the Delhi University to frame proper guidelines for conducting DUSU elections in the future, taking into consideration suggestions made by the petitioner and all other stakeholders with a view to come up with a comprehensive solution.

The court's order came on a public interest litigation by advocate Prashant Manchanda, seeking a complete ban on the defacement of public property and also direction to the civic agencies to impose heavy fines on political parties and aspiring candidates in order to prevent further defacement of property.

The court has posted the matter for further hearing on December 12.