India, Oct. 26 -- The Bombay high court on Monday urged celebrities to volunteer for noise pollution awareness campaigns after the state informed it that some were demanding payment to participate. The court also asked authorities to step up awareness efforts in Mumbai's slums, expressing concern over firecrackers being burst until 2am and the lack of outreach in these areas.

A division bench of Justices GS Kulkarni and Dr Neela Gokhale said celebrities should contribute to the public cause without the government spending taxpayers' money on their participation.

"We thought they were conscious about this but this (asking for payment) is their response? We think some of them should come forward to help the public cause. When you have pol...