The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has taken a stern stance against the persistent sale and use of “Chinese manjha”—hazardous nylon and lead-coated kite strings—demanding that the Uttar Pradesh government provide a definitive roadmap for its eradication. During a hearing on Monday, the court expressed dissatisfaction with symbolic bans, summoning top state officials to explain why the dangerous material remains in circulation despite existing restrictions.
Presiding over a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by local advocate M. L. Yadav, the bench of Justices Rajan Roy and Manjive Shukla directed the Secretaries of the Home and Environment departments to appear via video conferencing for the next hearing on July 13.
The court’s directive underscores a shift from policy-making to strict enforcement. While the central government’s counsel, Rajkumar Singh, informed the bench that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had already prohibited lead-coated and nylon manjha, the justices observed that a ban on paper is ineffective without ground-level compliance. The court emphasized that the state must proactively investigate manufacturing hubs and sales points to stop the trade at its source.
In response to the court’s scrutiny, the Uttar Pradesh government revealed that it is currently framing a specific law to prohibit the manjha. A six-member committee has already been established to draft the legislation and oversee the transition toward a total ban.
The government’s move follows years of public outcry over the “Chinese” strings, which are known to cause fatal injuries to birds, commuters, and children due to their high tensile strength and metallic coating.
The proceedings also highlighted a growing tension between authorities and local traders. The city’s kite association filed an intervention application during the hearing, alleging that police and local officials were harassing legitimate members under the guise of the manjha crackdown.
Addressing these concerns, the High Court maintained a balanced view:
- To the Association: The bench stated that members must cooperate fully with efforts to curb the use of banned strings.
- To the Government: The court directed authorities to ensure that enforcement actions remain targeted and that no individual is subjected to unnecessary harassment.
As the July 13 deadline approaches, the state government is expected to present its “concrete plan,” which will likely determine the future of kite-flying regulations in Uttar Pradesh.
