24 hours after High Court rap, BMC fails to restore Dia Mirza’s pollution-free Diwali video

Bollywood actor Dia Mirza. File | Photo credit: PTI

More than 24 hours after the Bombay High Court ordered the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to restore actor Dia Mirza’s video message calling for a noiseless and pollution-free Diwali, the BMC has failed to do so. Sources in the BMC say they will study the court order and take an appropriate challenge to it. They declined to provide a timeline for restoring the video. Meanwhile, the opposition and human rights organizations slammed the government for failing. The Shiv Sena UBT demanded that the civic body restore the video immediately.

“The BJP regime is now blatantly disrespecting the Hon’ble Court. First, it criticized Dia’s video because of her last name. The video was made to appeal against the Supreme Court order itself. Then the BJP calls her anti-national. For what? Highlighting environmental issues? File a video appeal against the court order? The regime can’t handle administration – be it the city UBT Thacker, Sena, The Country Hindu on Wednesday (November 4, 2026).

Civil rights activist Sumaira Abdulali, who works for the cause of noise pollution, demanded that the BMC provide an explanation as to why it had taken down the video, which was shot under Bombay High Court guidelines.

“The reason why they took it down could not be explained. They were only following a court order. How can a politician interfere with a court order? The second question is to ignore the order 24 hours later. The government is not respecting the court. The noise rules were issued in 2000. The first orders started coming in 2003. It seems that we are still not complying with the court orders. Whether we follow them or not is real. the question is not,” she told The Hindu.

She said she was similarly focused on raising her voice against the noise. “Instead of following a court order, we smear people for other reasons, which is a subversion of the law. It’s very brazen. But it’s been happening for a long time. I’ve been targeted in the same way for years,” she said.

Last week, the BMC uploaded videos of celebrities appealing to people to celebrate Diwali without noise and air pollution. This was done as directed by the Bombay High Court. Celebrities who participated in the voluntary campaign included Madhuri Dixit, cricketer Ajinkya Rahane, actor Nishigandha Wad and UN Goodwill Ambassador Dia Mirza.

Soon after, BJP Mumbai president Ameet Satam publicly spoke out against Ms Mirza, telling the BMC that they did not need her advice to celebrate their festival. This led to the BMC taking down the tweet. The Bombay High Court took cognizance of this and expressed displeasure with the move. It ordered the BMC to restore Ms. Mirza’s video message. The orders were issued on October 3rd (Tuesday).

BMC sources said officials of the legal and judicial department were busy with the urgent demolition that took place in Borivali on Wednesday (November 4). This drive was held after the Supreme Court ordered the salary of the BMC commissioner to be withheld for failing to demolish the illegal structures. “We will study the order and take a decision on it,” said a BMC official.

In an order issued on November 3, the Bombay High Court also asked the Maharashtra government whether it can set regulated timing for bursting firecrackers during Diwali to avoid health risks and environmental damage.

Published – 04 Nov 2026 23:14 IST