[Ban on Nylon Manja] Bombay HC orders police to publish contact numbers to lodge complaints of violation

The Aurangabad Division Bench of the Bombay High Court comprising Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Sanjay A Deshmukh has asked the police authorities of all districts and the Commissionerate to publish the names of their dedicated police officers and their contact numbers to enable the public to contact such police officer from their own region, in the event of noticing any use of Nylon Manja.

The High Court was hearing a Suo Moto PIL which was registered in 2020 after the Court came across two publications of the Times of India of the Aurangabad Edition with the title “Nylon Manja Kills Woman in Nashik” and “Ban Sought on Nylon, Sharp Manja Ahead of Sankranti”. After taking note of the death of the woman who was lost due to the slitting of her throat and several birds suffering from injuries because of Nylon Manja, the court registered a Suo Moto PIL.

On the 4th January 2023 when the case had come up for hearing, the amicus curiae informed the court that the National Green Tribunal has delivered orders mandating all States in India to prohibit the manufacturing, selling, purchasing, and use of Nylon Manja. Accordingly, the States have been initiating steps to implement such directions, he informed. 

The Government Pleader also submitted before the court that the respective authorities and the police officials have been informed by issuing circulars to implement the order of the High Court.

The Court then asked the authorities to publish the names of the police officials for the general public to lodge complaint. It ordered,

"We find that the police authorities of all districts and the Commissionerate, amenable to the jurisdiction of this Court, should publish the names of their dedicated police officers and the contact numbers to enable the public to contact such police officer from their own region, in the event of noticing any use of Nylon Manja."

Further, the Nanded Waghala City Corporation informed the court about the steps taken by the corporation at all levels, including in the schools and colleges to ensure that the Nylon Manja is not used for flying kites or for any purpose.

Moreover, the Advocate representing Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, informed the court that orders have been issued to ensure that kite flying on the premises of the University would be prohibited.

Case title: The Registrar Judicial High Court of Bombay Bench at Aurangabad vs The State of Maharashtra and others