The Bombay High Court on Wednesday gave two weeks to the Maharashtra government and BJP leader Ashish Shelar to file their responses to a contempt petition filed against them for failing to comply with its earlier directions on precautions to be taken during the Dahi Handi festival.
A Bench of Justices Abhay Oka and GS Kulkarni was hearing a petition filed by Swati Patil seeking contempt action against Swadheen Kshatriya, principal secretary of Home Department, and Shelar, head of Dahi Handi Samiti, set up by the government in February last year.
The Dahi Handi Samiti was set up by the government following directions from the High Court on precautions and restrictions during the festival.
The court had, among other directions, asked the government to ensure that Dahi Handi (formation) is restricted to only four layers and the height of pyramids is reduced to prevent people from fall. In her petition, Patil claimed that the court’s directions were flouted by several pandals across the state and the samiti and its members failed to comply with the court orders. — PTI
