Mumbai: Bombay HC on Tuesday said it was “unfortunate” that BMC had removed from its social pages a video of actor Dia Mirza urging citizens to avoid firecrackers as part of its anti-pollution campaign. It suggested that the post be “put back” to restore people’s confidence.Justices Girish Kulkarni and Neela Gokhale said they were “disturbed by comments which were made by certain persons in regard to celebrities who had participated and assisted in public cause”. “What has been reported is most unfortunate, to say the least. There could not have been any other colour which could be given, and more particularly, when there are directions of the court,” said Justice Kulkarni.
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Celebrities were roped in for the campaign after HC’s nudge last week.Pointing out that it was “really upset” over Mirza’s post being removed, the bench said, “We would desire that in the event any goodwill message of any celebrity was taken off from the corporation’s social media, it would be ideal if the same is put back in the spirit of what Supreme Court observed that the festival is for everybody to celebrate.”Justice Kulkarni said they did not approve of BMC’s move. “Somebody is voluntarily coming forward, who has always been associated with social causes, and you are going to reprimand that person. With all this petty-mindedness.”The judges said Mirza “had rendered a very very good message only in terms of environment, noise pollution and air pollution”. “There was nothing. There was no question of objection and no question of giving any colour. Most unfortunate,” said Justice Kulkarni.The judges suggested that BMC reupload the video. “…it should not have been taken off… please put it again and restore the confidence of the people in the Constitution and society… This is a constitutional requirement, not this kind of thought. And these are stray thoughts of one or two persons,” said Justice Kulkarni.HC said environment and air and noise pollution are paramount concerns, and every person can canvass and “bring this sensitisation to the public fore”. “Therefore, [asking] why X person was picked up etc is not a good thing,” said Justice Kulkarni.Hearing a suo motu PIL on festival noise and air pollution due to firecrackers, HC had on Oct 26 said it expected celebrities to voluntarily come forward to spread awareness. It had asked for celebrities and famous personalities’ involvement in the campaign “because their appeal to the masses is more”. On Tuesday, the judges told BMC’s advocate Joel Carlos to congratulate civic chief Ashwini Bhide for the “impeccable steps she has taken”, particularly by getting celebrities to spread awareness. State’s advocate Jyoti Chavan said the HC order had created so much goodwill that celebrities “suo motu approached us”.The judges said their order seeking measures to keep the bursting of firecrackers in check wasn’t just for Diwali but also for “all 365 days”. They referred to a representation “from persons of all religions… to say what is all this (pollution due to crackers) happening”.The bench cited Supreme Court’s Monday order that Diwali is a national festival and also referred to raising of awareness by celebrities. It asked whether SC and HC orders have any qualification.The judges directed the state govt and other authorities to endeavour to implement timings for the bursting of crackers.
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