Full Breakdown
Bombay High Court Rejects Paid Celebrity Endorsements for Anti-Pollution Campaign
By Drooid · · How we work
In this breakdown
01
Core Event: Court Rebukes Paid Celebrity Participation
During a suo motu hearing on noise and air-pollution control in Mumbai, a division bench of Justices GS Kulkarni and Neela Gokhale expressed displeasure that film personalities were demanding appearance fees for an anti-pollution awareness drive. The judges questioned why celebrities who attend police-organised functions without charge could not do the same for a public-health campaign, and they warned that the state exchequer should not fund such endorsements.
02
Background & Context: Firecracker Ban and Pollution Concerns
The bench is hearing petitions that seek stricter enforcement of a September 22 order prohibiting the bursting of firecrackers on public streets and the use of laser and high-intensity lights during Ganpati and Navratri festivities.
Visual evidence
Images from the story
!['Udta Teer' BO Day 4 [LIVE]: Crosses Rs 21 crore India net on first Monday](https://static.toiimg.com/thumb/imgsize-78755,msid-135206506,width-375,resizemode-4/135206506.jpg)
03
Official Statements & Responses
- Government pleader Jyoti Chavan told the court that authorities had approached several Bollywood celebrities to lend their voices to the campaign, but the stars asked for remuneration.
- Advocate Joel Carlos, representing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), said that noise-related complaints would be routed through the civic body’s existing 24-hour disaster helpline, 1916.
- The court directed that both the BMC helpline 1916 and the police emergency number 100 be publicised widely through print, cinema and digital media.
- Amicus curiae Aspi Chinoy pointed out the absence of a dedicated grievance-helpline in the administration’s affidavits, prompting the bench to stress the need for a recorded, accessible channel for complaints.
- The judges also instructed civic authorities to involve ward corporators and local leaders in targeted awareness drives for slum areas, noting that “special kind of drive” is required to sensitize residents.
04
Verbatim Quotes
- “Don't go to any celebrity who is going to charge you! If celebrities are not conscious about their own city, and they want to come only at fees, we are very sorry!” — Justice GS Kulkarni.”
- “We thought that there are celebrities who have a lot of social interest, sense of belonging to the city, and they would give it back,” Justice Kulkarni said.” — Justice Kulkarni.”
- “There you require special kind of drive, sensitising all these persons who are in the slums. We are nothing against them, but they should follow the law,” — Justice Kulkarni.”
05
Data & Statistics
- Slum settlements cover more than 50 % of Mumbai’s land area, and firecracker violations are reported “around midnight” in many of these neighbourhoods.
- The court’s earlier September 22 order banned firecrackers on public roads and prohibited laser-light displays during festive processions.
06
What's Next: Scheduled Enforcement and Follow-Up Hearing
The bench adjourned the matter to November 25 and directed the BMC, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, and the Mumbai police to coordinate sustained enforcement of noise-pollution restrictions, especially in slum areas. The court’s order also requires the continued publicisation of helpline numbers 1916 and 100 and the involvement of ward corporators in awareness campaigns.