Himachal High Court Orders Uniform Rules for Hoardings to Protect Hill Towns
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has stepped in to bring order to the clutter of outdoor advertisements across the state. In a significant directive, the Court has asked all Municipal Corporations — except those that have already framed their rules — to draft and notify their Advertisement and Hoarding Bye-Laws, 2025, modeled on the regulations of the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC).
The ruling came from a Division Bench led by Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Jiya Lal Bhardwaj, during a hearing on the issue of unregulated hoardings. The Court noted that the State Government had already instructed urban local bodies to prepare comprehensive bye-laws, but several corporations were yet to act.
As a result, five key Municipal Corporations — Mandi, Solan, Dharamshala, Palampur, and Parwanoo — have now been directed to align with the government’s instructions. The move aims to ensure uniformity and clarity in how outdoor advertisements are managed across Himachal’s urban centers.
The Bench emphasized that hill towns face unique challenges: unregulated hoardings not only spoil the aesthetic beauty of the mountains but also raise environmental and safety concerns. By harmonizing rules, the Court hopes to strike a balance between commercial visibility and the preservation of Himachal’s fragile landscapes.
This decision marks a step toward cleaner, safer, and more visually appealing towns — a change that residents and visitors alike are likely to welcome.
