Mumbai: Children below 14 cannot participate in the Dahi Handi festival, the State government told the Bombay High Court on Monday. The HC, however, refused to impose restrictions on the height of human pyramids or the age of participants. It also removed restrictions it had set in 2014 that said participants should be at least 18 years old, and human pyramids shouldn’t exceed 20 feet in height.
The court accepted the stand made by Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that as per the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, children below 14 years will not be allowed to participate in the festival.
A Division Bench comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and M.S. Karnik said the court cannot impose such restrictions as this falls under the purview of the State Legislature. The HC was hearing two petitions filed by city residents on participation of minors in the festival and lack of safety measures, leading to several accidents. The petitions also urged for restrictions on human pyramid height and participants’ age.
The State government had moved the Supreme Court against the HC order on height and age, but were denied relief. In August 2016, the government declared Dahi Handi an adventure sport. Swati Patil, one of the petitioners, told the court that accidents during Dahi Handi have reduced by 78% after the HC-ordered restrictions came into effect. The court replied that accidents can happen anywhere and people may die while playing cricket, performing gymnastics or while on the treadmill.
