Anil Bhatia & Ors. vs Govt. Of Nct Of Delhi & Ors. on 19 February, 2015

           *IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

%                                    Date of decision: 19th February, 2015

+      W.P.(C) No.6711/2013, CM No.14566/2013 (for directions) & CM
       No.15413/2013 (u/O1 R-10 of the CPC).

       ANIL BHATIA & ORS.                                      ....Petitioners
                    Through:          Mr. Pranav Sachdeva, Ms. Shloka
                                      Rawat and Mr. Syed Musaib, Advs.
                                      for Mr. Prashant Bhushan, Adv.

                                  Versus

    GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI & ORS.                 ..... Respondents
                  Through: Ms. Zubeda Begum, Standing
                           Counsel for R-1.
                           Mr. P.R. Chopra, Adv. for R-3/ECI.
                           Mr. Anish Dayal, Adv. for Intervener
                           in CM No.15413/2013.
                           Inspr. Satyavir, P.S. Bindapur.
CORAM:-
HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJIV SAHAI ENDLAW

RAJIV SAHAI ENDLAW, J.

1. The petitioners no.1 & 2 i.e. Anil Bhatia and Satyadev Solanki, being members / volunteers of petitioner no.3 Aam Aadmi Party, seek declaration that the Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 2007 (hereinafter called Defacement Act) does not prohibit putting up of posters / banners, on one‟s own private property or house/building, or with the consent of the W.P.(C) No.6711/2013 Page 1 of 35 owner of a private property or house/building. Alternatively, the petitioners impugn the said Act as being unconstitutional and violative of Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of In