Dahi Handi: No minors; human pyramid can't go beyond 20 feet, says SC

The Supreme Court on Wednesday uphold the Bombay High Court directions, saying the height of human pyramid cannot exceed 20 feet in the Dahi Handi fest.

Maharashtra Government had moved the apex court on August 3, seeking a clarification regarding the height of human pyramids for the celebrations after the Bombay High Court pulled up the government for its failure to obtain clarification from the apex court in this regard.

"The height of human pyramid, meant for Dahi Handi festival cannot exceed 20 feet ceiling fixed by the Bombay HC," the court said.

The court also said that the youth below 18 years of age cannot participate as 'Govindas' in upcoming Dahi Handi festival.

Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) last month, the High Court had directed the state government to approach the apex court on its order on the height of human pyramids.

The High Court had on August 11, 2014, ordered that the height of human pyramids should not exceed 20 feet and children below 18 years should not be allowed to participate in the Dahi-Handi function.

The issue had cropped up on a contempt petition filed by a city-based social worker Swati Patil, who is the secretary of an NGO named Utkarsh Mahila Samajik Sansthaa.

Patil alleged that the Maharashtra Government and others were not following the Bombay High Court's earlier orders on the height of human pyramids during Dahi Handi celebrations.

(With ANI inputs)