MP High Court warns guardians may be held liable if minors use Chinese manja

Indore: The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday directed the state government to strictly enforce the ban on Chinese manja, warning that guardians could be held legally responsible if minors are found flying kites using the banned string.

A bench comprising Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi ordered that the public be widely informed that selling or using Chinese manja can attract criminal action under Section 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with causing death by negligence. The court took suo motu cognisance of a series of deaths and accidents linked to the sharp kite string reported on December 11, 2025.

During the hearing, the state government told the court that steps were already being taken to curb the sale of Chinese manja and that precautionary measures were in place to prevent accidents. The government also said awareness campaigns would be launched through print and electronic media to discourage the use of the banned string.

Issuing clear directions, the court said anyone found selling or using Chinese manja could be prosecuted under the relevant provisions of the BNS. It further noted that if a minor is caught using the nylon thread, their guardian may also be held accountable under the law.

Indore district magistrate Shivam Verma informed the court that the administration would issue necessary orders at the earliest to comply with the directions and that these would be immediately circulated to neighbouring districts.

Officials pointed out that despite the ban, the use of Chinese manja continues in parts of Indore. Over the past one-and-a-half months, a 16-year-old boy and a 45-year-old man reportedly died in separate incidents after their throats were allegedly slit by the sharp kite string.

(with inputs from agencies)