Will Hold State Liable For Victim Compensation If 'Chinese Manjha' Sales Continue Unabated, Warns Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court has taken strong note of the failure of the Uttar Pradesh authorities to effectively curb the unabated manufacture, sale and use of deadly synthetic kite strings, commonly referred to as “Chinese Manjha”. Observing that state functionaries "wake up and start taking some action" only when tragic injuries or fatalities hog newspaper headlines, the Court warned that it may compel the State to pay compensation to victims out of its own exchequer if the menace is not immediately contained. A Bench of Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Abdhesh Kumar Chaudhary passed the stern order while hearing a 2018 Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea filed by petitioner-in-person Moti Lal Yadav, along with a connected PIL filed by one Rajjan Khan. Briefly put, the petitions seek issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the authorities to strictly ban the import, sale and use of these injurious products across Uttar Pradesh. On February 11, the petitioners produced several recent newspaper reports highlighting that as many as ten injuries and deaths had occurred due to the razor-sharp string. In response to this, the Chief Standing Counsel Shailendra Kumar Singh apprised the bench that fresh Government Orders had been issued on February 9 and 10, 2026, to effectively curb its use. Rejecting the State's reliance on mere paperwork, the Bench observed that the continued sale and use of the synthetic string proved that the mere issuance of Government Orders would not suffice. "There needs to be a sincere and concerted effort at district/local level to prevent manufacture, sale and use of what is termed a 'chinese manjha", the bench noted. The bench added that a permanent mechanism involving a regular and continuous exercise for the prevention of manufacture, sale and use of such manjha is required to be put in place with suitable and effective provisions in law to curb the said practice and to make those indulging in such practice liable for their actions. The Bench directed the State Authorities to file a fresh counter-affidavit detailing the measures they propose to take by making suitable provisions in law, unless already in place, to prevent the manufacture, sale, and use of such manjha. Crucially, the Court opined that liability must not only fall on those manufacturing or selling the string, but also on those officials who fail to discharge their duty to prevent it. "If, even after the aforesaid, such sale and use of so called Chinese manjha continues, then, we may be compelled to consider ordering payment of compensation by the State to victims, in addition to the cost of treatment etc", the bench strictly warned. The Court has also directed that effective steps be undertaken to spread awareness amongst the general public about the consequences of using such manjha, especially parents of juveniles, so that there may be a general consensus in society against the manufacture, sale, purchase, and use of such manjha. The matter has now been listed for March 11, 2026.Click Here To Read/Download Order

Will Hold State Liable For Victim Compensation If 'Chinese Manjha' Sales Continue Unabated, Warns Allahabad High Court

Sparsh Upadhyay

Tags