Pune candidates must show NOC for any fines on unauthorized flexes before filing nominations.
The move follows a rise in illegal flexes and banners across Pune ahead of elections.
Without the NOC, nomination forms may be rejected.
Pune, 14 October 2025: As the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) prepares for the upcoming civic elections, the administration has declared a stringent requirement for prospective candidates: they must present a No Objection Certificate (NOC) confirming that they have settled any penalties for illegal flexes or banners. Failure to provide this document may result in the rejection of their nomination forms.
The decision aims to curb the rampant spread of illegal flex boards and hoardings across Pune, which have become a common sight on roads and intersections. Many of these banners advertise coaching classes, private businesses, and real estate projects, but in recent weeks, political advertisements have sharply increased as the election season approaches.
PMC Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram has instructed officials to eliminate all unauthorized hoardings to enhance the city's appearance. In response to his directive, more than 3,000 illegal flexes and banners have been removed from different areas of Pune. Additionally, police cases have been filed against 26 people under the city beautification law. However, the issue persists, as new posters continue to emerge almost every day.
Currently, those who put up unauthorized banners face a penalty of ₹1,000 per flex. However, PMC officials have noted that many political workers and local leaders often ignore these fines. Some field officers also reportedly impose only a single fine of ₹1,000, even when multiple flexes are found, effectively giving violators partial immunity.
A case from Sinhagad Road illustrates that numerous birthday banners for a local politician were overlooked before the event and were only taken down several days afterward. This selective enforcement has faced criticism, leading the PMC to implement the NOC requirement to promote accountability.
Madhav Jagtap, the Deputy Commissioner of the Sky Sign Department, stated that the initiative aims to instill discipline among candidates. He clarified that individuals running in the PMC election must now secure a No Objection Certificate (NOC) verifying that there are no outstanding fines for illegal flexes.
Put simply, individuals who mar the city's skyline with illegal advertisements must now settle their debts or face the possibility of being disqualified from running in the election.
