The Hindu Business Line : WB: Political graffiti could be back on the walls

Most of the political parties in the State had then expressed their displeasure with stricture, some leaders even saying that it went against the very political culture of the city.

Kolkata , Nov. 17

A Bill that seeks to ease restrictions against defacing walls across the State with political graffiti is to be introduced in the State Assembly in its winter session which began here on Friday.

Under the existing legislation "defacement of any property in pubic view" is a cognisable offence.

Over the years, the enforcement of the legislation concerned - The West Bengal (Prevention of) Defacement of Public Properties Act 1976, — has been lax till it was invoked by the State Government in the run-up to the April-May Assembly elections with a view to debarring poll graffiti on walls as directed by the Election Commission.

Most of the political parties in the State had then expressed their displeasure with the stricture, some leaders even saying that it went against the very political culture of the city.

The issue was taken up at the first meeting of the Cabinet of the new State Government formed after the Left Front was swept back to power, and a three-member committee of ministers set up to propose amendments to the legislation concerning defacement of walls.

The Act concerned had come into existence when the Congress was in power in the State.

Need for Re-look

The Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, has been asserting the need for a re-look at the legislation. "Whether in London or Paris, does such a demonic piece of legislation exist in any city in the world"? he had asked on an earlier occasion. On Friday, when asked to comment on the proposed move to replace the Act, the Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly, Mr H.A. Halim, said that the wall writing had been allowed in some States during recent elections so why should it be any different in West Bengal.

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