(Reopens LGD18)

The Supreme Court had on August 10 revived a pleachallenging a Bombay HC order restricting the height of humanpyramids to 20 feet for ‘Dahi-Handi’ ritual, saying it neededto hear the PIL petitioner before passing any order. The court had sought reply of Swati Sayaji Patil, asocial worker, who had filed a petition for initiation ofcontempt proceedings against Maharashtra government in highcourt for failure to comply with the HC order. The Maharashtra government had earlier approached theapex court seeking clarification on its 2014 order by which ithad stayed the high court decision banning participation ofthose below 18-years in a popular ‘Dahi-Handi’ ritual. The high court had on August 11, 2014, while hearing apetition filed by Patil, ordered that the height of humanpyramids should not exceed 20 feet and that children below theage of 18 should not be allowed to participate. The state government had then challenged the high courtorder in the Supreme Court which had initially suspended theHC order and later dismissed the petition challenging it. The Maharashtra government had taken a stand that sincethe apex court had not expressed any opinion on restrictionimposed by the HC on the height of human pyramids, it was notbound by its earlier order. The high court had however asked the state government toseek clarification from the Supreme Court on the aspect thatits earlier order would be in force unless it had been setaside by the apex court. PTI ABA SJK RKSARC