The traffic police has favoured a advertisement company, that earns Rs 9 crores EVERY MONTH since 2001... Our estimate is, that a minimum Rs 3 crores is paid under the table EVERY MONTH to the police, in return) (Reproduced below from the Mumbai Mirror 8th March 2008, pg 11)
HC targets traffic police chowkies
Judge Nazki observes that advertisements distract drivers and put their lives at risk
MUMBAI MIRROR BUREAU
Sponsored police chowkies have come under the High Court scanner once more. After police chowkies, the Bombay High Court (HC) has pulled up the traffic police for accepting sponsorships to build traffic chowkies. “Police, and to a certain extent other government departments should not accept private sponsorship to meet their infrastructure needs,” observed a division bench of Justices Bilal Nazki and Sharad Bobade, on Friday.The court then asked the police to clear their stand on traffic booths across the city which are allegedly owned by private advertising companies, in two weeks time. According to a petition filed by social activist I K Chhugani, 74 traffic booths are sponsored by Everest Media.
The company earns huge revenues by selling advertising space on these booths. When chief public prosecutor Satish Borulkar informed the court that these chowkies were not owned by police,Justice Nazki observed, “Whatever you say, if you have taken money for infrastructure then it amounts to misconduct.” “You are distracting drivers and putting their lives at risk by putting advertisement hoardings on the traffic booths. Don’t you think it is necessary to apply one’s mind in public interest?”asked the court.
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(Reproduced below from the Times of India 8th March 2008, pg 9)Sponsored chowkies: HC slams police
Mumbai: The high court on Friday came down heavily on the city police for accepting private sponsorships to set up chowkies and traffic booths.Hearing a PIL filed by a Khar resident on private individuals, mainly builders, funding the chowkies, a division bench of Justices Bilal Nazki and Sharad Bobde asked the Mumbai police to clear their stand in two weeks on traffic booths owned by a private advertising company.
Petitioner I K Chhugani told the court that 74 traffic booths had been set up across the city by a private firm, which was earning a huge revenue by selling advertising space at the booths.
Public prosecutor Satish Borulkar argued that the booths were not owned by the police department and that a share of the revenue actually went to the BMC, which had given permission for the same.
“If you have accepted private investment for infrastructure, it is misconduct,” said the judges, wanting to know if the government would allow hoardings at Mantralaya.
The bench also said it was an issue that affected people’s faith in the police. “When you have advertisement on booths, the common man can think that (the) police are at the beck and call of somebody.”
Earlier, the police had assured the court that they would demolish all unauthorised chowkies—many of which had been built with private funds—in six months. TNN
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(Reproduced below from the Times of India 1st March 2008, pg 20)Take demolition order seriously: HC
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Friday warned the state that it would order demolition of all 269 illegal police chowkies within seven days if the police failed to take its previous order to pull down the structures seriously.When the state, through its lawyer, said it has demolished two chowkies in five weeks since the order, a division bench of justices Bilal Nazki and Sharad Bobde asked at this rate, how many years would they need to pull down all 269? The state had asked for six months to remove illegal chowkies after a public interest litigation was filed by activist I K Chhugani against unauthorised outposts coming up even on sidewalks, which were being sponsored by builders and other private business houses.
Chhugani had filed the PIL last year bringing to the high court’s notice that there were around 300 unauthorised police outposts on Mumbai roads and pavements. The petition forced the police to assure the court that within six months all these chowkies would go.
On Friday, when the matter came up for further hearing, Chhugani brought up a fresh issue. He said in 2001, the then joint commissioner of police, Pralhad Shinde, proposed to build “redesigned’’ traffic umbrellas at signals, where policemen can stand. When Chhugani pointed out that the additional police commissioner (traffic) had allowed Everest Advertising to put up advertisement booths across the city, essentially to benefit the company as the booths are never used by the police, the bench asked, “How much, by way of fees, do the police get?’’ Chhugani said, “Nothing officially.’’
The prosecutor admitted that all these booths would have to go. The HC then asked the state to file its stay on these booths within a week.
The advertising space on booths in prime areas sells for as much as Rs 2 lakh a month, Chhugani said. Many such booths are used by vagrants instead, he added.
The court asked the state to file its stay on these booths within a week even as it refused to grant a time period of more than six months for demolishing unauthorised chowkies. Last month, the police had promised the court to demolish 137 chowkies within six months, but public prosecutor Satish Borulkar pleaded for more time, for making alternative arrangement. toireporter@timesgroup.com
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http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=3078097159IN THE LINE OF FIRE: The court said it would order the razing of all 269 illegal police chowkies within a week if the police fail to take the demolition order seriously __________________________________________________________
(Reproduced below from the Mumbai Mirror 1st March 2008, pg 4)
How many years do you need to raze 267 illegal chowkies?
The Bombay High Court raps Mumbai police for not demolishing illegal chowkies despite the court’s order
DANISH KHAN
The Bombay high court (HC) came down heavily on the Mumbai police on Friday, for not doing enough against illegal chowkies. On January 25 this year, the Mumbai police said that they would demolish the illegal chowkies spread across the city within six months. The police had accepted the city has 269 illegal chowkies in response to a PIL filed by a Khar resident, Indur Chhugani.However, the court was stunned when it was informed that till date only two illegal chowkies have been demolished.
“If only two chowkies have been demolished in five weeks, how many years will be needed to demolish the remaining 267 illegal chowkies?” Justices Bilal Nazki and Sharad Bobade asked.
The public prosecutor later requested the court to grant six months time from Friday to get the illegal chowkies demolished. However, the court said that the period could not be extended further.
The court also threatened to order the demolition of chowkies within seven days if the police do not take the orders seriously.
Chhugani had filed a PIL in the HC last year pointing out that many chowkies hinder the movement of people and traffic and also draw electricity illegally. Most of the chowkies were sponsored by builders or local shops. Chhugani had also submitted a copy of the Mumbai Mirror in his PIL which had a report about chowkies drawing electricity illegally.
In response to the petition, the Mumbai police themselves had admitted in an affidavit on October 24 last year that it has 269 illegal chowkies and would get them relocated/demolished.
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