The Court declared that Chinese manjha is a serious issue and ordered the authorities to strictly abide by an NGT ruling and a Delhi government notification banning it.
According to a recent ruling by the Delhi High Court (Sanser Pal Singh v. Union of India and Ors), kite flying is a part of our culture and tradition and cannot be outlawed.
The use of Chinese manjha (synthetic thread), according to a division bench led by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad, is a serious concern, and the State has been ordered to strictly abide by the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) ruling and a Delhi government notification order banning it.
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition asking for a complete ban on kite flying and the use of Chinese manjha in the nation’s capital was before the court. The petitioner claimed that the use of Chinese manjha, which also injured birds and animals, was to blame for a significant number of incidents in and around Delhi.
Thus, the argument made by attorney Sanser Pal Singh argued for a complete prohibition on the manufacture, storage, and transportation of kites as well as all other items related to kite flying.
Counsel representing the Central and State Governments informed the Court that a notification was issued in 2017 outlawing the use of Chinese manjha and other comparable materials and that a monitoring committee had also been established to look into the issue.
Additionally, it was mentioned that the NGT had issued a resolution in September 2020 banning the production, distribution, storage, acquisition, and use of nylon or other synthetic, non-biodegradable thread for kite-making.
The police added that anybody found to be breaking the NGT order and the government notification are the subject of FIRs.
After hearing from the parties, the court dismissed the petition and instructed the relevant authorities to strictly uphold the NGT order as well as the notification.
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