Bombay High Court flags BMC's removal of actor Diya Mirza's pollution awareness video

The Bombay High Court has raised concerns about the decision to remove a video featuring Bollywood actor Diya Mirza from the BMC's official pollution-free Diwali initiative, according to court proceedings on Tuesday.

The high court's observation comes after the municipal corporation took down the video as part of its environmental awareness campaign aimed at promoting a cleaner celebration of the festival. The removal prompted judicial scrutiny into the rationale behind the decision and its implications.

The court has indicated that the video should be restored, underlining the importance of maintaining public awareness efforts around pollution during the festive season. The bench noted concerns about the manner in which content was being managed as part of the civic agency's pollution mitigation campaign.

The BMC's pollution-free Diwali initiative seeks to discourage practices that contribute to air and noise pollution during the festival celebrations. The high court's intervention highlights the intersection between environmental governance and freedom of expression, particularly when public institutions manage awareness campaigns.