Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay high court on Monday questioned the repeated failure of police to trace the sources of deadly nylon manja, asking whether those involved in its supply were being shielded.
With the required information still unavailable, it again reprimanded the state govt and directed it to identify the supply sources within 10 days. However, the proceedings revealed that authorities had failed to provide concrete information about where the string originated and the routes used to transport it. The court expressed displeasure over the administration’s inability to identify manufacturers, suppliers and sellers despite repeated directions to investigate how the banned kite string enters cities and reaches consumers. Taking serious note of deaths caused by nylon manja, the court had initiated a suo motu PIL in which it appointed Nischay Jadhav as amicus curiae. The bench warned that the officials concerned could be held accountable if they failed to comply. It also expressed dissatisfaction with govt machinery’s preparedness, observing that officials were expected to gather the necessary information before appearing in court rather than offer repeated explanations for the lack of progress.
At an earlier hearing, the Nagpur and Amravati police and the municipal corporation had submitted action plans to curb the use and sale of nylon manja. The court had previously directed authorities to investigate transportation through railways, roads and courier services.