State Bound To Activate Machinery Against 'Chinese Manjha' During Peak Kite Flying Season : Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court last week observed that the State Government is bound to follow the directions already issued by the HC and ensure that during the period when the kites flying is at its peak, the machinery is activated to ensure that manufacturing, use and sale of the Chinese Manjha does not take place so as to endanger human lives as well as the birds.

A bench of Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Kshitij Shailendra, made this significant observation while disposing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea that sought fresh directions for the prohibition of the synthetic kite string in District Jaunpur.

The petition, filed by Himanshu Srivastava and others, sought a direction to the respondents to take proper steps to prohibit the use, sale and manufacture of Chinese Manjha in any form whatsoever, and to decide the representation pending before them.

Upon perusing the petition, the Bench noted that an order was passed in November last year, giving specific directions to the State Government to adopt all appropriate steps for enforcement in accordance with law, including steps to prohibit the manufacture, use, and sale of Chinese Manjha in any form whatsoever.

Besides the said order, the bench noted that a few other petitions are also pending before the HC, for which orders have been issued.

Consequently, the Bench took the view that filing a fresh petition claiming that it pertains specifically to District Jaunpur would amount to multiplying pending petitions, which would not serve any purpose.

Thus, declining to entertain the petition as a fresh cause of action, the Court issued a stern reminder to the State authorities to take action as per the HC's previous orders. The Bench stated:

"It goes without saying that the State is bound to follow the directions already issued by this Court and ensure that during the period when the kites flying is at its peak, the State machinery must be activated to ensure that manufacturing, use and sale of the Chinese Manjha does not take place so as to endanger human lives as well as the birds."

With the above observations, the petition was disposed of.

Advocate Shiva Priya Prasad appeared for the petitioners. Standing Counsel Akansha Sharma represented the State of UP.

Case title - Himanshu Srivastava and 2 others vs. State of U.P and another 2026 LiveLaw (AB) 30

Case citation : 2026 LiveLaw (AB) 30

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