Jogeshwari mandal will ask SC to relax height restriction

MUMBAI: Jai Jawan Govinda Pathak, the Jogeshwari group that shares the world record for the human pyramid with the most levels – nine – with a Spanish group, said

MUMBAI: Jai Jawan Govinda Pathak, the Jogeshwari group that shares the world record for the human pyramid with the most levels – nine – with a Spanish group, said on Tuesday that it will file an intervention application seeking a relaxation of the Supreme Court order that restricts the height of human pyramids during dahi handi to 20 feet. The application, it said, will be filed on Wednesday, a day before Janmashtami.

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Pratap Sarnaik, Shiv Sena MLA from the Ovala-Majiwada constituency in Thane, who organised the event at which the world record was achieved in 2012, said, “The mandal had decided to return their prestigious record certificate to President Pranab Mukherjee. I suggested that they instead move the Supreme Court and file a petition seeking exemption from the height cap. All the rules are fine, except for the one about the height limit.”

Sandeep Dhawle, coach of the team, said the height restriction was uncalled for. He said, “We will file a petition tomorrow. It will only oppose the height restrictions. If the court doesn’t agree to it, we can do nothing but obey the rules.”

Mahesh Sawant, a member of Jai Jawan Govinda Pathak, also expressed disappointment at the court’s decision. “Everything else is fine, but the height restriction is a bit too much. The government had earlier declared the activity an adventure sport. Now, after we have been practicing for over two months, the court has suddenly given this verdict,” he said.

Bala Padelkar, head of the Dahi Handi Samanvay Samiti, lauded the mandal’s decision to seek a review of the order. “This is very good. We will fully support the mandal in their effort. If they feel they are wronged, they should fight till the last moment,” he said.