Bombay High Court had directed the state government to get a clarification from Supreme Court on the height restriction on human pyramids during Dahi Handi celebrations.
The state government is yet to get a clarification from the Supreme Court (SC) on the height restriction on human pyramids during Dahi Handi celebrations, but BJP city chief Ashish Shelar says there is no restriction.
The Bombay HC had recently asked the state government to get a clarification from the SC. On Sunday, Shelar, who is holding talks with Dahi Handi Utsav Samanvay Samiti (DHUSS) – the umbrella body of the mandals - claimed that the SC has not put any height restriction. The SC had earlier reduced the minimum age limit set by the HC at 18 years to 12 years.
Last year, officials had sent notices to organisers and mandals stating that the height of human pyramids cannot go beyond 20 feet. As a result, a number of organisers scrapped the event and celebrations were generally subdued. "A meeting was recently held between the chief secretary, the home secretary, a representative of the city police commissioner, the Thane police commissioner, the BMC commissioner, the Thane municipal commissioner and the Navi Mumbai police and municipal commissioners. There is no height restriction by the SC. Some officers did not read the SC order properly and hence there was confusion last year," said Shelar.
Shelar also assured mandal members that no "wrong" action be will taken by the police or harassment meted out to them during the festival. "The government has recently stated that it be celebrated as a sport. In sports, there is no age restriction," said Shelar.
Culture and education minister Vinod Tawde said that making of human pyramids by Govindas will be put in the sports category. "We will be having five events in the city with proper protection. We will insure 1 lakh Govindas," said Shellar.
When asked if the festival this year will be observed as a sport or cultural event, Shelar said, "Those looking to celebrate it as sport can do so and those who do it as a cultural event can celebrate it that way."
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis refused to say anything on record over height restrictions when contacted by dna on Sunday. Earlier, he had stated that everyone should follow the SC directive on the issue.
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