The judge directed Delhi's Kejriwal government to re-alert the police, DM, SDM, Tehsildar and other officials about the ban on Chinese manjha.
New Delhi: On the supply of 'Chinese manjha' even after the ban, the Delhi High Court on Friday directed the Police Crime Branch to submit a comprehensive status report to probe the manufacturers and importers supplying the material to traders. A single-judge bench of Justice Pratibha M. Singh, which was hearing a plea seeking the status of all related FIRs in the city, also sought details of marketers selling manjha.
Justice Singh said the report also has to state whether any legal action has been taken against the public, such as the Tehsildar and the SDM, who have the responsibility of carrying out the order prohibiting the sale and production of Chinese manjha. The court said the directions should be complied with within six weeks.
Order to issue strict warning to traders
The judge directed the Arvind Kejriwal-led government to re-alert the police, DM, SDM, Tehsildar and other officials about the ban on Chinese manjha. To determine whether shop owners are regularly informed about the ban, the court ordered officials to conduct proper market inspections and issue strict warnings to traders if their establishments are found selling banned material. If found, strict action will be taken against them.
The court further ordered the Delhi Police to determine whether it would be feasible to issue an advisory regarding the use of plastic guards on bikes for the safety of riders from Chinese manjha. The court directed the government to file another affidavit regarding compensation to be paid to the petitioners. The court listed the matter for continuation on April 12.
Ban on flying kites etc under section 94 of 978
It is to be noted that flying of kites etc. is banned under Section 94 of the Delhi Police Act, 1978. No person shall fly a kite or any other object which may cause danger to persons, animals or property. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2017 imposed a complete ban on the manufacture, distribution, sale and use of nylon or any synthetic manja or thread, which is similar to lethal and non-biodegradable in nature.
The High Court on August 4, 2022 asked the police to inform the court about the steps taken to implement the NGT order banning Chinese manjha used for flying kites. A division bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma heard a PIL expressing safety concerns over the alleged use of Chinese manjha and a complete ban on kite flying and related activities.