Lucknow High Court Orders Legal Action to Ban Dangerous “Chinese Manjha”

Lucknow: The Lucknow Bench of the High Court has issued a stern directive to the Uttar Pradesh government, emphasizing that government orders alone are insufficient to curb the sale and use of hazardous Chinese-manufactured kite strings (manjha). The court has called for the creation of a specific law to regulate these strings, warning that continued negligence may compel authorities to pay compensation to victims.

Court Observations

Hearing a public interest petition filed by local advocate Motilal Yadav, a bench comprising Justice Rajan Roy and Justice A.K. Chaudhary highlighted the urgent need for strict regulations on the manufacture, sale, and use of lead-coated and nylon manjha. The bench noted that government orders have largely failed in effective implementation and that a permanent legal framework is required to prevent accidents and fatalities caused by these strings.

The court warned the state government that if production, sale, and use of these dangerous manjha continue, it may issue orders for victim compensation. Authorities were directed to file a compliance affidavit by the next hearing on 11 March 2026, explaining the legal measures proposed to enforce a complete ban and hold violators accountable.

Rising Accidents Highlight Urgency

The petitioner informed the court of multiple incidents in February, where about ten people were either injured or killed due to the use of Chinese manjha. Key incidents reported over nine days include:

• 12 February: Mohd. Musharraf sustained a throat injury at Naka Flyover; his wife and child were also hurt when he fell off a bike.
• 8 February: Three separate incidents, including merchant Mukesh Verma losing both eyebrows and student Aqib sustaining a forehead injury near Bengali Club on Hewett Road.
• 7 February: Two accidents near Kudiya Ghat and Chowk, injuring two individuals.
• 6 February: Electric department employee Sudhir Kumar injured in Gomtinagar Extension.
• 5 February: Retired soldier Brajesh Rai injured near Ekana Hospital, Shaheed Path.
• 4 February: MR Mohammed Shoaib (33) died after his neck was cut by manjha near Haiderganj Overbridge.

Court Calls for Strong Legal Provisions

The High Court stressed that effective deterrence requires:

• Legally enforceable prohibitions on manufacturing, selling, and using dangerous manjha.
• Accountability of officials who fail to enforce these measures.
• Establishment of a continuous monitoring mechanism to prevent incidents.

The court emphasized that responsibility should not be limited to those directly involved in manufacturing or using the strings but also extend to government officers who neglect their statutory duties.

Government Response

The state government argued that orders issued on 9 and 10 October 2025 had prohibited Chinese manjha, and the term “Chinese manjha” was often misapplied to locally made synthetic strings. The High Court, however, noted that despite such orders, the incidents continued, highlighting the need for robust legal action.

The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for 11 March 2026, by which the state must submit a detailed affidavit on proposed legal measures and enforcement plans.