Petition filed in SC challenging Bombay HC order on Dahi Handi festival

Zee Media Bureau

Mumbai: A petition was filed in Supreme Court on Wednesday challenging the Bombay High Court order of regulating the height of human pyramids and ban participation of minors during the Dahi Handi festival in Maharashtra. The Bombay HC last week expressed concern over the death of children every year during the Dahi Handi festival in Maharashtra. Hearing a public interest litigation filed by Swati Patil, a division bench of Justices VM Kanade and PD Kode asked the state to issue a notification under the Bombay Police Act or other relevant law banning participation of those below 18 years of age in the pyramid-building. The court also asked the state to ensure that the pyramids, which try and reach the `handi` (pot) of curd tied high up and break it, do not rise above a certain safe height. This year the festival falls on August 18.