How is Dahi Handi adventure sport? HC asks state

Bombay High Court on Monday sought clarification from the Maharashtra government as to on what grounds it has classified Dahi Handi as an adventure sport and permit minors to participate in the festival.

A Division Bench of Justice RM Savant and Justice 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 HC for the Dahi Handi festival in 2015.

The Bench was on Monday informed that after the high court laid down the restrictions in its order in 2015, the state government issued a resolution on August 11 the same year declaring Dahi Handi as an adventure sport.

The high court in its 2015 order had said the human pyramids shall not exceed height of over 20 feet and no minors shall be permitted to participate in the pyramid formation.

Under the resolution, the government permitted minors above the age of 11 years to participate in the festival but with a letter from their parents.

Referring to the resolution, Justice Jadhav on Monday 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?”

The Bench directed the government to respond to its queries and posted the matter for further hearing on August 4.

The court also noted that political leaders like Ashish Shelar, who is himself the head of the Dahi Handi Samiti set up by the state government in February 2015, should abstain from organising or even attending such festivals where court orders are being flouted.

The Samiti was set up following a direction from the HC and its mandate was to implement the court’s guidelines during the Dahi Handi festivities.