Gujarat High Court Sets October 11 Deadline for Action Against Chinese Manja, Tukkal Ahead of Uttarayan

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court has directed the State Government to begin enforcement against banned kite-flying materials well before the Uttarayan festival, rejecting the practice of waiting until the end of October or closer to the festival to initiate action.

The directions were issued by a Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal while hearing a Public Interest Litigation concerning the use of hazardous kite-flying materials. The matter was heard on September 25, 2026, at Serial No. 48.

The court specifically directed the State to issue all necessary prohibitory circulars, statutory notifications and enforcement directions before the commencement of Navratri on October 11, 2026.

The State Government has given an undertaking before the court that all necessary notifications and circulars incorporating the court’s earlier directions will be issued before October 11.

The matter has been listed again for October 9, 2026, when the court will examine the compliance on record.

Court rejects delayed enforcement

During the hearing, the State’s counsel representing the Home Department submitted that formal enforcement generally begins towards the end of October.

The Chief Justice, however, questioned the rationale for delaying enforcement until that stage. The court observed that if authorities wait until mid-autumn, officials subsequently cite Navratri and Diwali-related duties as reasons for being occupied, resulting in enforcement being pushed further towards December or the Uttarayan period.

The court noted that such a timeline does not address the actual supply chain of prohibited kite thread.

According to the observations during the hearing, manufacturers and distributors begin producing and stocking prohibited synthetic thread as early as September. By the time enforcement begins in December or immediately before Uttarayan in January, substantial quantities may already have entered the market.

The court therefore stressed that enforcement needs to begin at the manufacturing and distribution stage rather than being concentrated around the festival itself.

Raids to begin during September and October

The Division Bench directed law enforcement agencies to conduct targeted raids on manufacturing units in known localities during September and October.

The court emphasized the importance of intercepting prohibited material before it reaches retailers and consumers.

Seizure of illegal stock at the manufacturing stage, the bench noted, also creates a direct financial and legal consequence for those involved in its production and distribution. Such action can act as a deterrent and disrupt the supply chain before the material reaches the market.

The directions effectively shift the focus from festival-period policing to pre-festival enforcement and supply-chain control.

Chinese manjha remains a key concern

The proceedings addressed the dangers associated with Chinese manjha, referring to synthetic or plastic-component kite thread that is non-biodegradable and poses risks to human beings, birds and other wildlife.

The court also dealt with Chinese tukkal or sky lanterns, which are prohibited because of the risk of fires caused by their uncontrolled flight and landing.

The bench further distinguished between ordinary cotton kite thread and glass-coated thread. While plain cotton thread is permissible, glass-coated kite thread is subject to restrictions and prescribed specifications.

The court indicated that communications issued at the grassroots level should clearly mention glass-coated thread along with plastic or synthetic manjha so that enforcement agencies and the public are not left with an incomplete understanding of the restrictions.

Court highlights impact on birds

The bench also took note of reports indicating that more than 10,000 birds are injured every year during the festival season because of hazardous kite strings, including glass-coated and synthetic threads.

The issue of bird safety was considered alongside the risks posed to people who come into contact with kite strings on roads and other public spaces.

The court’s observations emphasized that the objective is not to prevent traditional kite flying or to interfere with the cultural aspects of Uttarayan.

Instead, the focus is on preventing the use of materials that pose risks to human life and wildlife and ensuring that existing prohibitions are actually enforced.

Sensitisation along with enforcement

The Chief Justice also emphasized the need for a change in public attitudes towards prohibited kite-flying materials.

The court observed that consistent enforcement, including seizure of illegal stock and action against violators, can influence public behaviour over time. According to the court’s reasoning, when manufacturers, distributors and users face consequences for violating the law, the practice of using hazardous materials can gradually decline.

The court stressed that such an approach would allow the traditional celebration of Uttarayan to continue while reducing risks to people and birds.

October 9 compliance hearing

With Uttarayan still several months away, the High Court has now placed the emphasis on early administrative and enforcement action.

The State Government is required to complete the issuance of the relevant notifications and circulars before October 11, while enforcement agencies have been directed to undertake raids on manufacturing units during September and October.

The matter will come up before the Division Bench again on October 9, 2026, when the State’s compliance with the directions and its undertaking will be examined.

The court’s directions thus establish a pre-Navratri administrative deadline for action against prohibited kite-flying materials, rather than allowing enforcement to be deferred until the weeks immediately preceding Uttarayan.