In a Public Interest Litigation filed before the Allahabad High Court for implementation of judgments earlier passed by this Court, as well as government orders issued in pursuance of the same, with reference to illegal use of manjha, a Division Bench of Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Manjive Shukla issued certain directions for the development of a mechanism regarding the use of such illegal manjhas expeditiously, till the next date of hearing.
The State informed the Court that on 09-02-2026, the Home Department issued a fresh government order; pursuant to this, the Director General of Police, U.P., issued a Circular, and on 17-04-2026, a committee was constituted with officials of the Home Department. It was also informed that an enactment, namely the U.P. Lethal Manjha (Prohibition of Manufacture, Sale, and Use) Act, was to be placed before the State Legislature to address the use of illegal manjha.
It was mentioned that payment of compensation to the victims of such manjha was also being considered in the new proposed enactment, which was at the drafting stage. It was asserted that the State Tax Department of U.P., the Infrastructure and Industrial Development Department, U.P., the Home Department, U.P., and the Department of Environment, U.P. had a role to play in the prevention of manufacture, sale, and use of ‘Chinese manjha’ or manjha laced with glass particles. The State also informed the Court that apart from a drive in this regard, necessary amendments in the Police Act were also being contemplated.
The Court opined that constant exercise was required to stem this harmful practice, and expressed its expectation that the deliberations on the proposed enactment would, as far as possible, be concluded before the next date.
The manufacturers and sellers of kites, as well as traditional materials, asserted that traditional materials and kites were being confiscated in the garb of the said drive, and that businessmen were being harassed. The Court directed the State Authorities to keep a check on this aspect so that businessmen who are not indulging in prohibited activities are not harassed. The businessmen were also directed to cooperate with the State Authorities.
The U.P. Pollution Control Board was directed to seek instructions and to file an affidavit regarding its role, if any, in the matter. The Court asked the State Authorities to keep in mind that kite flying was more prevalent in the old areas of the cities, which could be earmarked to facilitate monitoring and control of the manufacture, sale, and use of such manjhas.
The matter was directed to be listed on 13-07-2026, and the Principal Secretary, State Tax Department, Head of Department, Government of Infrastructure and Industrial Development Department, Additional Chief Secretary, Home, DG, Police, U.P., and the Head of Department, Environment, U.P., were directed to join the proceedings through video conferencing to apprise the Court of the steps taken and mechanism developed.
Appearances:
For Petitioner – Party-in-person
For Respondents – CSC, ASG, Aviral Raj Singh, Raj Kumar Singh, Shakti Kumar Verma, Siddhartha Sinha, Syed Mohammad Haider Rizvi
