Case of culpable homicide to be registered for death caused by Chinese manjha, orders HC; what govt said?
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has directed that if a death occurs due to Chinese kite string, a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder will be registered against the concerned person under Section 106(1) of the BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita).
The High Court has taken a strict stance on the deaths caused by Chinese kite string (manjha). During a hearing on Monday, the court stated that the continuous occurrence of fatal incidents despite the ban is unfortunate and that strict action is necessary to prevent them.
The court stated that three people have died in Indore in the past few months due to Chinese kite string. In addition, many people have been injured, and a large number of birds have also been killed. The court noted that Makar Sankranti is on January 14th, and kite flying increases during this time, raising concerns about major accidents due to the use of the banned kite string.
Guardians will be held responsible if minors are caught using Chinese manjha
The High Court clarified that if any person is found selling or using Chinese kite string, direct criminal action will be taken against them. Furthermore, if minors are caught using Chinese kite string, their guardians will be held responsible, and cases will be registered against them as well.
During the hearing, amici curiae Senior Advocate Vivek Sharan and Akash Sharma suggested that, in view of Makar Sankranti, a report on the steps taken and the action plan implemented by Indore and the 14 districts falling under the High Court's jurisdiction should be sought. The next hearing will be held on January 16. Collector Shivam Verma was also present in court during the hearing.
Awareness campaign is underway
The government stated that along with the ban on Chinese kite string, a comprehensive public awareness campaign is being conducted regarding its harmful effects. Action is being taken to stop its sale, and special equipment is also being used to prevent accidents. The High Court had already issued clear directives on December 11, 2025, to Indore and surrounding districts.
Collector issues prohibitory orders
Meanwhile, Indore Collector Shivam Verma has issued a prohibitory order regarding the use of Chinese kite string (manjha) used in kite flying. The main organizers of kite flying events have been warned. This order was previously issued on November 25.
The order issued by the Collector states that any person, shopkeeper, organization, or event organizer violating the ban will be prosecuted under Section 223 of the IPC.
Collector Verma stated that during kite flying with Chinese kite string, birds often get entangled in it, resulting in injuries, and in many cases, even death.