Bombay High Court Directs Maharashtra Government to Submit Detailed Nylon Manja Accident Data
The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court issued a significant directive on Monday, ordering the Maharashtra government to compile and submit comprehensive district-wise data regarding accidents and injuries caused by the banned nylon manja across the Vidarbha region during the recent Makar Sankranti festival.
Court Seeks Information on Fines and Enforcement Effectiveness
In addition to the accident statistics, the court has explicitly requested detailed information on the fines collected for violations related to the prohibited nylon string. A division bench comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode mandated that all relevant data must be presented before the court by March 23.
The primary objective of this directive is to enable the court to thoroughly assess the scale of the public safety problem and evaluate whether existing enforcement measures have been implemented effectively across the state.
Background: Suo Motu PIL Based on Injury Reports
The court had previously registered a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) after taking suo motu cognisance of multiple media reports highlighting serious injuries and even fatalities caused by the deadly nylon manja. During the proceedings, amicus curiae Nishchay Jadhav presented alarming statistics to the bench.
According to the data submitted, 36 individuals sustained injuries in incidents involving nylon manja in Nagpur city alone during the festival period. The breakdown of hospital admissions revealed that 19 injured persons received treatment at Mayo Hospital, 16 were treated at the Government Medical College and Hospital, and one person required admission to Lata Mangeshkar Hospital.
Stringent Penalty Structure for Violations
Under the court's established directives, authorities must impose substantial financial penalties for violations related to nylon manja:
- If an adult is found using nylon manja, authorities must impose a fine of Rs 25,000.
- If a minor is found in possession of the banned string, the same penalty of Rs 25,000 will be recovered from the parents or legal guardians.
- Vendors supplying or selling nylon manja will face a significantly higher fine of Rs 2.5 lakh for each offence.
Purpose of Collected Fines: Supporting Medical Treatment
The judges provided crucial clarification regarding the utilization of the collected fines. All financial penalties imposed under these provisions will be specifically allocated to support the medical treatment of individuals injured in nylon manja-related incidents. This ensures that the enforcement mechanism directly contributes to mitigating the harm caused by the banned product.
The court's comprehensive approach—combining data collection, penalty enforcement, and victim support—demonstrates a determined effort to address this recurring public safety issue systematically and with measurable outcomes.
