HC dismisses PIL seeking children participation in 'dahi handi'

The Bombay High Court dismissed a PIL which had sought regulation of children participating in 'dahi handi' festivities. However, the Court said that the government may consider petitioners suggestion for making dahi-handi safer and may frame guidelines.

The Bombay High Court on Thursday dismissed a PIL which had sought regulation of children participating in 'dahi handi' festivities.

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The Court said that formation of human pyramid which is a feature of dahi handi in Maharashtra is "a regular sport and minors cannot be prohibited from participating in them."

However, the Court said that the government may consider petitioners suggestion for making dahi-handi safer and may frame guidelines.

A city-based NGO, Support India Foundation, had filed a PIL in Bombay High Court seeking a ban on participation of minors in 'dahi handis', a popular way of celebrating Janmashtami in Maharashtra.

The Foundation used RTI and found that children are getting injured while participating in the traditional 'dahi handi' celebrations where they climb on a human pyramid, which is some time as tall as a five-storeyed building, Geeta Singh, Director of the Foundation had told PTI.

During the last five years, nearly 100 children injured in 'dahi handi' celebrations were admitted in various city hospitals, Singh said.