Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Monday asked the state to explain an adventurous sport as per its definition and kept the matter after two weeks for further hearing. While hearing the petition, the court also came to know that in August 2015, the state had issued GR and gave Dahi Handi the status of an ‘adventure sport’.
The court then posed the question, “Does allowing a minor to participate in Dahi Handi falls under the adventures activity?”.
A division bench of Justice R.M. Sawant and Justice Sadhana Jadhav was hearing a PIL filed by activist Swati Patil who while objecting about the alleged use of small children during the Dahi Handi events sought safety of the participants in such activities.
The PIL also sought contempt action against BJP leader Ashish Shelar and others for flouting conditions and restrictions laid down by the HC for the Dahi Handi festival in 2015.
The court noted that political leaders like Ashish Shelar, who is 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.
