Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Monday asked the State government to clarify why it has classified Dahi Handi as an adventure sport in 2015, and is permitting minors to participate in the festival.
A Division Bench of Justices R.M. Savant and Sadhana Jadhav raised the query while hearing a petition seeking contempt action against BJP leader Ashish Shelar and others for flouting conditions and restrictions laid down by the HC for the festival in 2015. Besides Mr. Shelar, the petition also sought contempt action against former Mumbai BJP youth wing president Ganesh Pandey and the then Principal Secretary of the department concerned.
The petitioner informed the Bench on Monday that after the HC laid down restrictions in its order in 2015, the State government issued a resolution on August 11 the same year declaring Dahi Handi an adventure sport. In its 2015 order, the HC had said human pyramids formed during the festival shall not exceed a height of 20 feet, and no minor shall be permitted to participate in its formation. Under the resolution, the government permitted minors above the age of 11 to participate with a letter from their parents.
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Justice Jadhav said, “Is Dahi Handi an adventure sport? Are our orders being flouted under the garb of it being an adventure sport? How can minors take part in such adventure sports? Explain it to us.” The bench directed the government to respond to its queries and posted the matter for further hearing on August 4.