Bombay HC Orders BMC to Re-Upload Dia Mirza’s Diwali Pollution Awareness Video

Mumbai: In a stern rebuke to political leaders and municipal authorities, the Bombay High Court took strong exception to the political pushback and communal controversy surrounding an eco-friendly Diwali campaign video featuring actor Dia Mirza. 

A Division Bench comprising Justice Girish Kulkarni and Justice Dr. Neela Gokhale directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to immediately re-upload the deleted promotional clip on its official social media handles.

The legal proceedings arose during the hearing of a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (In re: Noise and Environmental Pollution) concerning festive noise and air pollution across Maharashtra. Following prior court directives prohibiting firecrackers on public roads and lanes, the civic administration had engaged prominent personalities to record pro bono awareness messages encouraging citizens to celebrate a pollution-free Diwali. Mirza, who serves as a UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador, voluntarily recorded her appeal without charging any fee.

However, shortly after the BMC published the video on its official handles, several political figures raised objections following these objections, the BMC deleted Mirza's video while retaining campaign clips featuring other celebrities.

Following the video's removal, Mirza expressed her dismay on social media, noting that she had recorded the public service message voluntarily and without remuneration.

Taking serious note of the civic body's action, the High Court expressed deep anguish over the incident, observing that it was most unfortunate that a public health and environmental initiative was given a political or communal colour. The Bench emphasized that environmental protection is a universal concern and reminded public representatives that everyone in the country breathes the exact same air regardless of religion or caste.

Underscoring that India is a secular country, the bench remarked that the Constitution expects citizens and elected officials to foster a secular spirit. The Bench further highlighted that Diwali has partaken the character of a national festival celebrated across all communities. The court censured the hostility directed at Mirza for supporting a civic cause, stating that public representatives holding responsible posts should refrain from making loose comments that disturb societal harmony.

Defending the civic commissioner's choice of awareness ambassadors, the court termed the BMC's decision to take down the video a "knee-jerk reaction". 

The Bench reiterated that its directives against air and noise pollution apply 365 days a year and ordered the BMC to restore the deleted clip to reinforce public confidence in constitutional values and social togetherness.