HC ‘disturbed’ by politicians’ comments targeting Dia Mirza Diwali video, orders BMC to re-upload it

The Bombay High Court directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to re-upload Dia Mirza’s Diwali video. The court said this would “restore the confidence of the people.” The order followed concern over the video’s removal from the BMC’s social media accounts.

The video was part of an anti-pollution campaign. Mirza urged Mumbai residents not to light firecrackers on public streets and to limit air and noise pollution. The BMC had created it after the court directed civic authorities to run awareness campaigns and involve celebrities.

The bench called Mirza’s message “really good” and said the issue concerned public health and the environment. It also objected to remarks that appeared to give the campaign a communal angle. Re-uploading the video keeps the health message available and signals that environmental warnings should not be withdrawn because of political criticism.

The BMC removed Dia Mirza’s video from its social media handles after Bharatiya Janata Party city unit chief Ameet Satam objected to it. The article says the civic body did not explain why it deleted the clip. Videos featuring Madhuri Dixit and Ajinkya Rahane remained available.

Satam said, “We don’t need lessons on how to celebrate Diwali from Dia Mirza,” and said traditions were deeply rooted in culture. Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde also objected to Mirza’s inclusion and alleged that the actor had “always taken an anti-Hindu and anti-government stand.”

The High Court said these objections were unfortunate and appeared to give the campaign a communal angle. It stressed that India is secular and that people should not be excluded from celebrating a festival because of their religion. The bench viewed the campaign as an environmental and public-health effort, not a religious lesson.

The Air Quality Index, or AQI, is a numerical system used to communicate air pollution levels and their possible health effects. It turns pollution data into a simpler public message, helping people understand whether outdoor air is relatively clean or unhealthy. The article refers to hourly updates from the Central Pollution Control Board’s Sameer application.

Mumbai’s average AQI on Tuesday was 82. Sameer placed that reading in the “satisfactory” category. In the category description quoted by the article, air at this level may cause minor breathing discomfort to sensitive persons.

That reading did not indicate the most dangerous conditions, but it did not mean pollution had no effect. The category provides useful context for the firecracker campaign. The court and BMC were focusing on reducing air and noise pollution during festivals, while the AQI showed why residents still needed clear environmental information.

Mumbai’s reported air-quality situation was measured as “satisfactory,” based on an average Air Quality Index reading of 82 on Tuesday. This means the city’s air was not described as severely polluted in the article. However, the category still carries a health warning for some people.

The Sameer application, which provides hourly updates from the Central Pollution Control Board, supplied the reading. Its category guidance says air in the “satisfactory” range may cause minor breathing discomfort to sensitive persons. The article does not identify which individuals fall into that group.

The figure gave context to the High Court’s concern about pollution during festivals. The court had directed awareness campaigns against firecrackers, and Mirza’s video urged residents to limit air and noise pollution. The reported AQI shows that conditions were manageable but still relevant to public health, especially for people more vulnerable to breathing discomfort.

The Bombay High Court had ordered a ban on lighting firecrackers on public streets and roads. It also restricted the use of laser lights during festivities. These measures addressed pollution and public concerns connected with celebrations in shared spaces.

The article says the order was issued on September 22. On October 15, amid rising air pollution in Mumbai, the court directed the BMC, Maharashtra government, and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board to launch awareness campaigns and enlist celebrities.

The restrictions were not limited to one festival or one season. The High Court said the September 22 order would remain in force throughout the year and would cover all festivals, including Diwali. That broad scope explains why the BMC campaign addressed general festival pollution rather than only a single event. It also gave the awareness video a continuing public-health purpose.

When many people use firecrackers, pollution can increase across crowded communities. The article identifies harmful effects on air and noise pollution as the reason for the campaign. These effects matter because public spaces are shared, so celebration-related pollution can affect people beyond those lighting the fireworks.

The High Court responded by directing awareness campaigns and by keeping its ban on firecrackers on public streets and roads in force. Dia Mirza’s video asked Mumbai residents to limit air and noise pollution during the festive season. Mumbai’s Tuesday AQI was 82, in the “satisfactory” category, but the category may still bring minor breathing discomfort to sensitive persons.

The article does not quantify pollution caused by firecrackers or list specific illnesses. It does show a public-health approach: explain the risk, discourage use in shared streets, and keep restrictions applicable across festivals. The court’s message was that environmental protection should not become a partisan or communal dispute.

A secular government can respect religious celebration while protecting everyone from shared environmental risks. It can set rules based on public health, pollution, and safety rather than on a person’s religion or political identity. Such rules should apply equally across festivals and communities.

The case offers a concrete example. The High Court kept restrictions on firecrackers on public streets and roads, and on laser lights, in force throughout the year for all festivals. It also supported awareness campaigns. Dia Mirza’s video urged residents to limit air and noise pollution, while the court said the message concerned health and the environment.

The bench stressed that India is secular and that no person should be isolated from celebrating a festival because of religion. This approach protects freedom to celebrate while limiting harmful conduct in shared spaces. It also reduces factionalism by focusing public debate on common air, health, and environmental concerns.