The Madhya Pradesh High Court has directed the state government to strictly implement the ban on Chinese manja — the razor-sharp synthetic kite string — and warned that guardians of minors found using it can be held legally accountable.
A division bench of Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla and Justice Alok Awasthi of the Indore bench passed the directions on Monday while hearing a suo motu case initiated on December 11, 2025, in response to recent fatalities and injuries linked to the use of the dangerous kite string.
The court underscored that the public must be widely informed about the legal consequences of selling or using Chinese manja, including prosecution under Section 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (which corresponds to Section 304A IPC, dealing with causing death by negligence). It added:
“If any minor is found using the Chinese nylon thread, then his guardian may also be made responsible.”
Authorities informed the court that two people — a 16-year-old boy and a 45-year-old man — died in Indore in the past six weeks after their throats were allegedly slit by the banned string. The incidents highlight the severe risks posed by Chinese manja, which, despite being officially prohibited, continues to be used in kite flying due to its strength and sharpness.
Responding to the court’s concerns, Indore District Magistrate Shivam Verma stated that orders would be issued without delay and shared with neighbouring districts to ensure coordinated enforcement.
The court also directed the state to launch public awareness campaigns across print and electronic media to curb the sale and use of the string. It stressed that enforcement agencies must act decisively against sellers and users of the banned product.
“They [the state authorities] are directed to publish that if anybody is found selling or using the said thread, he may also be prosecuted,” the court said in its order.
Often marketed as “Chinese manja,” the synthetic glass-coated string is banned in many states due to its lethal potential. It has been repeatedly linked to injuries and deaths of both humans and animals, including birds. Despite enforcement efforts, it remains widely available in local markets, especially around festivals like Makar Sankranti, when kite flying peaks.
The High Court’s order references Section 106(1) of the BNS, 2023, which criminalises acts of negligence causing death. The order effectively brings the use of banned manja within this penal provision, marking a significant shift toward treating manja-related fatalities as prosecutable offences rather than mere accidents.
