The Delhi High Court on Friday ordered the Delhi Police Crime Branch to look into the manufacture, sale, and storage of Chinese ‘Manjha’ in city’s markets and shops.
Justice Prathiba M Singh directed the Crime Branch to investigate the importers, traders, and shopkeepers who deal in manjha and to submit a detailed report to the court. The matter is listed for further hearing on April 12, 2023.
The bench ruled that, “Details on all markets where the thread is sold, as well as whether shopkeepers have been warned about it, should be provided. The status of the FIR, whether or not the shopkeepers have been charged, and whether or not any proceedings have been initiated against officials who are obligated to stop the sale of Chinese manjha shall also be submitted to the court.”
The order was passed by Justice Singh during a hearing on a group of petitions filed by the families of those who died or were injured in accidents caused by these threads. Many of these people were riding motorcycles when the thread slit their throats, according to the Court. It was also claimed that manjha was harmful to birds and animals.
After considering the matter, the Court stated that, given that kite-flying is mostly done by children and young adults, it is the authorities’ responsibility to ensure that these dangerous threads are not available in the market.
Justice Singh observed that despite orders from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and communications issued by from various authorities prohibiting the use of the manjha, deaths continue to occur in the national capital.
The Court highlighted that, “Stricter implementation is required. It would have to be carried out by officials, including police authorities, who would have to ensure that the FIRs do not remain paper FIRs and that proper investigations are carried out against the manufacturer, importer, and shopkeepers, who would also have to be prosecuted.”
Therefore, it directed the Delhi Police to file a report outlining the status of the FIRs filed for the use of these threads and whether or not chargesheets had been filed in the cases.
District Magistrates (DMs), Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs), and local police officials have been directed to conduct periodic inspections to ensure that such material is not sold in markets and that consumers are informed about the exact quality of the threads they may be using.
The bench ruled, “A further affidavit shall be filed in respect of the prayer for compensation to the victims, as the deaths of innocent people caused by Chinese manjha may also be considered a dereliction of duty.”
The Bench also directed the Delhi Police to investigate the feasibility of issuing an advisory requiring the installation of plastic guards on motorcycles in order to protect riders.
