Prevention of disfigurement of open spaces

The statement of objects and reasons to the Karnataka Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1981 speaks about the disfigurement of public and private buildings and other open places by slogans written and posters pasted indiscriminately. These activities not only spoil the beauty of the buildings, but also obliges the owners of the spaces to incur avoidable expenditure to undo the mischief. Though there are provisions under the Police Act and municipal laws to check this, they are seemed to be not sufficient.

Section 3 of the Act provides for penalty for unauthorized disfigurements by advertisements. Accordingly, whoever, by himself or through any other person, affixes to, or erects, inscribes or exhibits on, any place open to pubic view any advertisement without the written permission of the local authority having jurisdiction of such area, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees or with both. Any person who abets the above said offence shall also be punished with the same offence. If the person committing such offence is a company, then every person who, at the time the offence was committed, was in charge of and responsible to the Company, for the conduct of the business of the Company, as well as the Company shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence.