High Court Asks Assam Govt To Inform On Status Of 2017 Guidelines Regulating Outdoor Advertising In Guwahati

The Gauhati High Court recently asked the Assam Government to file a status report with regard to the modified version of the 'Guwahati Outdoor Advertisement Policy Guidelines, 2017'.

The division bench comprising the Chief Justice (Acting) Lanusungkum Jamir and Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak was hearing a PIL alleging that the State Government has not yet notified the final 'Guwahati Outdoor Advertisement Police Guidelines, 2017'.

The present petitioner had earlier approached High Court in the year 2016 by filing a PIL alleging indiscriminate placement of hoardings and billboards on the streets and dividers of the Guwahati roads. It was further alleged that there is no proper guidelines regarding placement of hoardings and billboards in Guwahati.

During the pendency of the said PIL, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation published a draft Notification in the name of 'Guwahati Outdoor Advertisement Police Guidelines, 2017' (Policy Guidelines 2017) for inviting objections from the public at large.

During the hearing of the said PIL, the Senior Additional Advocate General had submitted that no objection has been received from anyone against any provision of the Policy Guidelines, 2017.

Accordingly, the said PIL was disposed of on May 07, 2018, directing the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) to immediately forward the draft Notification of Policy Guidelines, 2017 to the State Government for its due consideration and final Notification. The Court had also directed that the final Notification shall be published positively within six weeks from the date of the order.

The present PIL was filed alleging that despite expiry of more than seven years, the State Government is yet to notify the final Policy Guidelines, 2017.

The Additional Advocate General appearing for the Guwahati Municipal Corporation and the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority submitted that the said Guwahati Outdoor Advertisement Policy Guidelines, 2017 was subsequently modified. However, the said modified guidelines are yet to be finalised.

“The learned Addl. Advocate General, Assam shall file a status report with regard to the modified version of the Guwahati Outdoor Advertisement Policy Guidelines, 2017,” the Court directed.

The matter is directed to be listed after six weeks.

Case Title: Dadul Bharali v. The State of Assam & 9 Ors.

Case No.: PIL/27/2025

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