The Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to re-upload actor Dia Mirza’s video promoting a crackerless Diwali, taking strong exception to the political backlash against the environmental campaign and the communal colour given to the initiative.

A Division Bench of Justice Girish Kulkarni and Justice Neela Gokhale, hearing the suo motu public interest litigation expressed displeasure over the civic body’s decision to delete Mirza’s video following objections by political leaders on social media, who had labelled the campaign anti-Hindu.

The BMC had engaged several prominent personalities, including Mirza, to record pro bono messages encouraging citizens to celebrate Diwali with lights rather than noise. The initiative followed the High Court’s earlier suggestion that civic authorities involve celebrities in public awareness campaigns against pollution.

However, after political leaders objected to Mirza’s participation, the BMC removed her video while retaining clips featuring other celebrities.

Taking note of the controversy, the Bench observed that the environmental campaign should not be given a communal or political colour. It questioned why a person voluntarily supporting a public cause should be subjected to hostility and reprimand for doing so.

The Court emphasised that its anti-pollution directions operate throughout the year and that environmental protection is a concern shared by everyone, irrespective of religion or community. It also referred to the Supreme Court’s observation that Diwali has, over the centuries, acquired the character of a national festival celebrated by people across caste, community and religious lines.

The Bench advised the BMC to restore the deleted video, observing that doing so would help restore public confidence in the Constitution and society. It made clear that environmental concerns should not be hijacked by attempts to give the campaign a different colour.