Consider regulated timings for firecrackers, Bombay High Court tells Maharashtra government

A view of the Bombay High Court. File

The Bombay High Court has asked the Maharashtra government to consider the applicability of the Supreme Court’s directions for regulated timings for bursting firecrackers during Deepavali to prevent severe environmental and health hazards in the city.

In a 13-page order, issued after taking suo motunote of the pulling down of a video of actress Dia Mirza on Deepavali by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), a Bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Neela Gokhale referred to a set of directions issued by the Supreme Court on October 29, 2026 in the context of the high levels of pollution prevailing in the Delhi-NCR region during the festive season.

The High Court order, which was made available on Wednesday (November 4, 2026), said that the Court was of the opinion that it would also be appropriate for the State government and other authorities, including the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, the BMC, and the Police Department, to consider these directions, particularly in regard to the timings for bursting firecrackers.

The Supreme Court had directed that the bursting of approved green crackers during Deepavali be restricted to specific windows between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the National Capital Region (NCR).

“In our opinion, it would be appropriate for the State government and the authorities concerned in Maharashtra to consider the applicability and implementation of the said directions in the State, having regard to the prevailing local conditions,” the Court said.

The apex court had recently underscored that while Deepavali is a joyous national festival celebrated across communities, the unregulated bursting of firecrackers poses severe environmental and health hazards. “It can trigger sharp spikes in the Air Quality Index (AQI) and generate microscopic particulate matter (PM) that remains trapped in the atmosphere for days,” the Supreme Court had said.

In the same order, the High Court termed the deletion of actor Dia Mirza’s social media awareness message against firecrackers “most unfortunate”, and observed that there is no room for factionalism or individualism when public health and environmental initiatives are undertaken in pursuance of court orders.

The Bench lauded Dia Mirza and other prominent public figures, including Madhuri Dixit, Nishigandha Wad, Ajinkya Rahane, Harshada Khanwilkar, Swapnil Joshi, and Kushal Badrike, for voluntarily stepping forward without remuneration to support the public health and environmental campaign. While the hearing took place on Tuesday (November 3, 2026), the BMC has still not uploaded the video of the actress.

The High Court held that it would be “ideal and eminently desirable” for the municipal corporation to restore the deleted post on its official handles, emphasising that Mumbai’s rich cultural heritage survives on the spirit of togetherness.

Taking serious note of the incident where Dia Mirza’s message was singled out and taken down from the municipal body’s social media page, the Bench remarked that such reactions appeared to have overlooked the “overarching intent, object, and solemnity” of the court’s orders aimed at curbing air and noise pollution.

“There can be no scope or justification for such reactions of a few individuals, particularly when such reactions are ex facie against the highest constitutional principles of secularism, which are paramount and to be adhered to by every citizen,” the Bench held.

Sounding a note of caution to public authorities and machinery of the State, the court emphasised that every official action must be guided solely by the objective of nurturing goodwill and respecting every member of the community, irrespective of caste, community, or religion.

“It is essential to foster an environment of fraternity and mutual respect, while recognising that the celebration of any festival is a constitutional right of every citizen,” the court observed, citing Supreme Court precedents that no individual ought to be isolated from celebrations.

While reiterating its appreciation for the municipal administration’s anti-pollution measures, the Court said restoring the deleted awareness videos would align with constitutional norms and close the chapter on a positive note.

The High Court hearing had come after Dia Mirza’s video sparked a political row, leading the BMC to selectively remove her clip from social media, following Mumbai BJP chief Ameet Satam’s objection and mayor Ritu Tawde’s comments labelling her “anti-Hindu”.

While her clip urging people to avoid noise and air pollution was pulled down, campaign videos featuring actors Madhuri Dixit and Nishigandha Wad, as well as cricketer Ajinkya Rahane, remained on the BMC’s X and Instagram handles.