Plea filed before Delhi High Court seeking complete ban on kite flying, Chinese manjha

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition has been filed before the Delhi High Court to impose a complete ban on kite flying and use of Chinese manjha (strings) in the national capital [Sanser Pal Singh vs. UOI].

The plea has also sought a blanket ban on kite making, storage and its transportation along with all other materials that are used in flying kites.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad heard the matter on Thursday and asked the counsel appearing for Delhi Police to obtain instructions on the petition particularly on the issue of Chinese manjha.

The matter will be taken up on August 5, Friday.

The PIL, filed by advocate Sanser Pal Singh, stated that as per the data received from the authorities, several humans and countless birds have lost their lives or injured by kite strings.

Singh said that he had himself met with an accident in 2006 when a kite string got entangled around his body and in the attempt to stop it from reaching his throat, he cut his finger in half.

The petition argued that Delhi Police has filed 10 first information reports (FIRs) in the recent years on the incidents of kite strings hurting humans but the numbers could be much higher and that a complete ban on kite flying is the only solution to the problem because it is extremely difficult to nab the culprit or fix responsibility once the accident has already occurred.

It further stated even the Rajasthan and Gujarat High Courts have passed directions on the issue and instructed the authorities to ensure that plastic or nylon thread or any other toxic mater like glass powder is not used in kite flying.