Nylon manja menace HC seeks info on action by on-line portals
   Date :11-Jan-2024

Nylon manja menace 
 
 
 
 
Staff Reporter
 
In response to the increasing menace of deadly Nylon manja being supplied on-line, the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has taken a strong stance and issued directives to major on-line platforms like Facebook, Lucky Kite Center, Jio Mart, and Just Dial. The division bench of Justice Nitin Sambre and Justice Abhay Mantri has ordered Facebook and Meta to outline the steps they will take to curb the on-line supply of nylon manja by Friday (January 12). The High Court initiated a public interest litigation (PIL) on this matter and acknowledged the severe threat posed by nylon manja, a sharp and potentially lethal string used in kite-flying.
 
The counsel, in the court, stressed that the major production hubs for nylon manja were in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, from where smuggling into the State is rampant. With the approaching Makar Sankranti festival, known for heightened kite-flying activities, the court is keen on implementing preventive measures in a timely manner. During the court proceedings, the counsel also highlighted that despite a previous ban on nylon manja, it continues to be widely used, causing harm not only to humans but also posing a threat to animals and birds. The court took a note of the alarming situation and directed the Chief Secretary to address the issue in co-ordination with neighboring States to curb the smuggling.
 
In a previous hearing, Deputy Commissioner of Police (EoW and Cyber) Archit Chandak informed the court that the banned nylon manja is still making its way into the city from Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. Adv Ravi Sanyal, appearing as amicus curiae, stressed that nylon manja, along with its Chinese counterpart, poses not only a threat to humans but also has resulted in fatalities among animals and birds. He also cited the incidents of humans losing their lives due to the lethal string. With the festive season of Makar Sankranti just around the corner, sale of manja is at its peak. Adv Sanyal urged the court to ban on-line sales of nylon manja through platforms like Lucky Kite Center, Jio Mart, and Just Dial.