A PIL has told the Karnataka High Court that the BBMP never complied with a direction, issued almost a year ago, to report on unauthorised LED signboards and advertisement hoardings in Bengaluru. The Court has now asked the civic body to file a status report.
Bengaluru: Flashy, unauthorised LED signboards that could distract drivers and cause accidents are the target of a public interest litigation before the Karnataka High Court, which has directed the BBMP to place on record a status report on the steps it is taking against unauthorised advertisement hoardings in the city [Deeksha N Amruthesh v. Government of Karnataka].
A Division Bench of Justice Anu Sivaraman and Justice KS Bharath Kumar heard the matter. The remarks recorded below were made orally during the hearing, and the Court has not yet ruled on the merits of the plea.
A direction a year old
Appearing for the petitioner, Advocate Amruthesh NP reminded the Bench of its order dated November 13, 2025, which had directed the BBMP to file a status report. In the year since, he submitted, new advertisements and structures had come up across the city.
The report concerns enforcement of Bye-Law 15 of the BBMP (Advertisement) Bye-Laws, 2024, which empowers the civic body to remove or demolish advertisements erected without permission. Pressing the interim relief sought in the plea, counsel pointed to commercial advertisements put up inside St Joseph’s School on Vittal Mallya Road, and alleged that advertisers were benefiting from the lower tax payable on self-advertisement hoardings.
The Bench’s question on placement
Justice Sivaraman asked the BBMP how advertisements could be placed without turning into a traffic hazard, observing orally:
“Counsel, tell us where this can be safely done. Probably can be done in some other areas safely without distracting the traffic.”
The BBMP’s response
Counsel for the BBMP and the Pollution Control Board told the Court that action was being taken against corporations misusing self-advertisement licences, and sought time to place the names of defaulters on record. Counsel for the BBMP submitted:
“If it is for self-advertisement, the whole thing has been changed, we are taking action and police complaints are also being filed. I’ll file the status report.”
Advocate Mahesh Chowdhary, for the Pollution Control Board, asked whether height restrictions could also be considered so that hoardings do not distract drivers while they turn their vehicles.
The matter will be heard next on November 25, 2026.
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Why the hearing matters
Bright, animated LED signboards along busy roads raise both road-safety and revenue questions, especially where commercial advertising is passed off as self-advertisement to pay lower tax. With the BBMP now committed to filing its status report and naming defaulters, the next hearing should show how far the 2024 Advertisement Bye-Laws are actually being enforced in Bengaluru.
Case Title: Deeksha N Amruthesh v. Government of Karnataka
Bench: Justice Anu Sivaraman and Justice KS Bharath Kumar, Karnataka High Court
Date of Hearing: November 12, 2026
Next Date: November 25, 2026
Appearances: Advocate Amruthesh NP for the petitioner; Advocate Mahesh Chowdhary for the Pollution Control Board; counsel for the BBMP
