The Chhattisgarh High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the tragic death of a 7-year-old boy, Pushkar Sahu, caused by the banned Chinese manjha, directing the state to answer for its failure to enforce the 2017 ban. The court, in its strong observations, lamented the loss of an innocent life due to administrative lapses, calling for immediate accountability and action.
The case (WPPIL No. 14 of 2025) was heard by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal. The bench expressed deep concern over the continuous sale of the banned material despite clear prohibitions, describing the incident as a “failure of governance with fatal consequences.”
The Tragic Death That Sparked Judicial Action
Pushkar Sahu, a first-grader and the youngest son of Dhanesh Sahu, an automobile mechanic, was out for an evening ride on January 20, 2025, near Katora Talab Garden in Raipur. Riding on a moped with his father, Pushkar was struck by a stray piece of Chinese manjha, a sharp synthetic kite thread, which fatally injured his neck.
Eyewitnesses reported that Pushkar began bleeding profusely as the thread cut deep into his throat. Despite the quick intervention of bystanders who transported him to multiple hospitals, Pushkar succumbed to his injuries. His father held local authorities responsible, pointing to the open sale of Chinese manjha in Raipur despite the statewide ban.
The tragedy gained widespread attention after local newspapers Haribhoomi and Dainik Bhaskar highlighted the case, leading the court to initiate the suo motu proceedings.
Court’s Directions and Observations
Expressing its anguish, the bench observed, “The open sale of banned Chinese manjha reflects a grave failure of governance. The loss of a child due to negligence is unacceptable.”
The court issued a series of directives to address the lapses:
1. Show-Cause Notice to Authorities: The Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh has been asked to explain why the banned Chinese manjha remains available in markets and what steps have been taken since the ban was imposed in 2017.
2. Incident and Enforcement Report: Authorities must provide a comprehensive report detailing the number of incidents caused by Chinese manjha in the past and the measures taken to enforce the ban.
3. Compensation for Victims: The court demanded an explanation on whether the victim’s family and other injured individuals have been compensated.
The matter is scheduled for further hearing on January 29, 2025.
In addition to Pushkar’s death, the court noted reports of other injuries caused by Chinese manjha on the same day. A woman lawyer in Devendra Nagar and a young man in Budhapara sustained serious injuries. The court emphasized the urgent need to prevent such recurring tragedies.
