Dahi Handi fest: Seek SC view on height of human pyramids: HC to govt

The Bombay high court on Friday pulled up the Maharashtra government for its failure to obtain clarification from the Supreme Court on its order regarding the height of human pyramids for ‘Dahi Handi’ celebrations.

A bench of Justices Abhay Oka and Amjad Sayed observed that the Govinda festival was approaching and the state government had not yet obtained clarification from the apex court on the approved height of human pyramids.

Last month, the high court, while hearing a public interest litigation, had asked the state government to seek a clarification from the Supreme Court on its order on the permitted height of human pyramids.

The bench has asked the state government to seek the clarification and posted the matter for hearing on August 12.

The court was hearing a petition filed by city-based social worker Swati Patil, who is the secretary of Utkarsh Mahila Samajik Sanstha, an NGO.

Patil alleged the Maharashtra government and others were not following the orders of the Bombay high court on the height of human pyramids during ‘Dahi Handi’ celebrations.

The high court, on August 11, 2014, ordered that the height of human pyramids should not exceed 20 feet, and that children below the age of 18 years should not be allowed to take part in it.

The state government challenged the order in the Supreme Court, which initially suspended the high court order, but later dismissed the petition.

According to the state government, the apex court did not express any opinion on the restriction imposed by the high court on the height of human pyramids. Hence, they were not bound by the earlier order of the high court.

The high court, however, is of the opinion that its earlier order would be in force unless it had been set aside by a higher court. Therefore, it asked the state government to get clarification from the Supreme Court about the same.

All Govinda organisations in the state are eagerly awaiting the court’s decision on the height of human pyramids in view of the forthcoming ‘Dahi Handi’ festival.