MAM
MCGM to Bombay high court: Can’t waive licence fee for Mumbai’s OOH owners
MUMBAI: On 19 June, in an unexpected turn of events, the municipal corporation of greater Mumbai (MCGM) refused to waive off the licence fees even if the hoardings in Mumbai are advertising civic messages.
The bench dealt with a number of petitions filed by advertising agencies, holding licences for hoarding sites in Mumbai. The hoarding owners were seeking waiving of the licence fees. The licence holders claimed that they are not using their hoarding sites since March due to the outbreak of Covid2019 and they have been only advertising civic messages.
"There is no provision in any statute, rule, policy or license condition that contemplates that if the licence holders are unable to display the advertisement for any reason whatsoever, they will be entitled to waiver of licence fees. They have failed to make out any constitutional or legal right for such waiver of the license fees," the MCGM said in an affidavit.
"Our guidelines specifically contemplate that it is mandatory on part of the agency to display a civic message as and when directed by us for a period of 15 days in a year for which no fees will be payable," the affidavit read.
The civic body mentioned that it had sent notices to a number of agencies to put messages to spread awareness about the disease in March.
Clarifying in the affidavit, MCGM said, “Hoardings were required to be displayed for a period of 10 days only and there was no need to give any fresh notice or letter for removal of the same. The agencies are intentionally misreading our notice. The notice does not contemplate that any further instructions would be issued for removing the hoardings.”
The civic body also revealed that it had waived licence fees for the month of April of Rs 7.49 crore and that the civic body itself went through a loss of nearly Rs 70 lakh.
"The commercial arrangements between the private advertisers and the licencees are not within our scope and ambit. We are in no way responsible for any such breakdown in the commercial relationship of the licencees and the same cannot be a ground for a grant of a waiver of licence fees without any legal or the statutory basis for the same," the MCGM said while urging the bench to dismiss the plea.
The eight Mumbai OOH owners who filed the petition in the Bombay HC for waiver of licence fees are — Creation Publicity Pvt Ltd, Bright Advertising Pvt Ltd, Orion Advertisers, Anurag Sites, Em Vee Advertising Company, Pingle Outdoor, Yoag Advertisers and Pioneer Publicity Corporation Ltd.
The firms have been asked to submit replies in writing, by 26 June.
Brands
Samsung India elevates Aditya Babbar to lead mobile business
Exec takes charge of MX sales and marketing after Raju Pullan’s exit
NEW DELHI: Samsung India has elevated Aditya Babbar to lead its mobile phone business, following the exit of Raju Antony Pullan.
Babbar, who previously served as vice president within the mobile division, has been appointed head of sales and marketing for the MX (mobile experience) business, effective May 1. In his new role, he will oversee the company’s sales and marketing operations for smartphones and related categories in India, reporting to the executive vice president of the MX business.
A long-time Samsung executive, Babbar brings over a decade of experience within the organisation, having held multiple leadership roles across product, marketing and category management. Most recently, he led product marketing and e-commerce for the mobile division, following earlier stints as head of product and marketing and senior director roles.
His career within Samsung Electronics and its India operations has also included responsibilities for flagship devices, tablets and wearables, giving him a broad view of the company’s premium and mass-market portfolio.
Babbar succeeds Pullan, who stepped down from the role, marking a leadership transition at a time when India remains a key battleground for global smartphone makers.
The appointment signals continuity within Samsung’s leadership bench, with an internal candidate stepping up to steer one of its most critical business units in a highly competitive market.
