The Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to re-upload an awareness video featuring actor Dia Mirza that the civic body had taken down from its social media accounts after objections from political leaders, according to Live Law and India Legal Live.
Source: Live Law
A division bench of Justice Girish Kulkarni and Justice Neela Gokhale said it was disturbed by the stray comments made by some politicians against Mirza and reminded them that India is a secular country. The bench asked how anyone could object to a person's participation just because that person was from another religion, the reports said.
Mirza had recorded the video at the BMC's request, urging citizens not to burst firecrackers on public streets ahead of Diwali, in line with the High Court's own directions on air and noise pollution. The court noted she had delivered a good message on pollution in accordance with those directions, according to Madhyamam Online.
Source: Madhyamam Online
Video removed after objections, others stayed up
The controversy began after Mumbai BJP president Ameet Satam objected to Mirza's participation in the BMC's eco-friendly Diwali campaign. Following the objections, the BMC removed her video, while campaign videos featuring other celebrities remained available, India Legal Live reported.
The bench said there was no need for a knee-jerk reaction and directed the BMC to put the video back and restore the confidence of the people. Justice Gokhale observed that the matter was purely environmental and should not be given any other colour, noting that everyone breathes the same air, according to Law Chakra.
Source: Law Chakra
Part of a wider pollution case
The hearing was part of the court's suo motu public interest litigation on noise and environmental pollution caused by firecrackers during festivals. On October 15 the court had directed the BMC, the Maharashtra government and the state pollution control board to run awareness campaigns against firecrackers and enlist celebrities, and its September 22 order banning firecrackers on public streets remains in force through the year, Madhyamam Online reported.
Mirza is a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Environment Programme. The court said restoring the video would reinforce public confidence in constitutional values, and it criticised the civic body for withdrawing the clip merely because objections had been raised, according to LawTrend.
Source: LawTrend