HC seeks data on nylon manja accidents, fines in Vidarbha

Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court on Monday directed the Maharashtra govt to submit district-wise data on the number of accidents and injuries caused due to the banned nylon manja across Vidarbha during the Makar Sankranti festival. The court also sought information on fines collected for violations related to the manja.Directing the authorities to place the data before it by March 23, a division bench of Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode said this would help the court assess the scale of the problem and evaluate whether enforcement measures were implemented effectively.The court had registered a PIL after taking suo motu cognisance of reports highlighting injuries and deaths caused by the deadly string. Amicus curiae Nishchay Jadhav told the court that 36 people were injured in incidents involving nylon manja in Nagpur city alone. According to the data, 19 of the injured persons received treatment at Mayo Hospital, 16 were treated at Govt Medical College and Hospital, while one person was admitted to Lata Mangeshkar Hospital.Under the court's directives, if an adult is found using nylon manja, authorities must impose a fine of Rs25,000. If a minor is found in possession of the string, the same penalty will be recovered from the parents. Vendors supplying or selling nylon manja will face a fine of Rs2.5 lakh for each offence.The judges clarified that the fines will be used to support the medical treatment of those injured in such incidents.