While the Bombay High Court lowered the age limit of Govindas to 14 on August 7, 2017, and refused to give directions to the state to regulate the height of human pyramids. The petitioner this year has written a letter to the state government to put a cap of 20-feet to form the human pyramid.
The HC last year had observed that capping the height of the pyramid would amount to encroaching on legislative powers, thereby voiding a 2014 order limiting the height to 20 feet. A month before the Dahi Handi festival, Swati Patil, the petitioner, this year too is raising the issue of capping the height of the pyramid.
In the month of July, Patil had written letters to the state government and police authority about the safety measures and restrictions on height.
Speaking about letters sent to CM Devendra Fadnavis and state's cultural affairs minister Vinod Tawde, Swati Patil, said, "Last year the high court had stated that the government can give direction to restrict the height of the human pyramid formed during the Dahi Handi festival. While the government did not give any rules or restrictions last year, I have filed a letter to the state government to think about the height restriction this year. While the number of injured and deads while forming a human pyramid has a decrease, restriction on the height to 20-feet will help to reduce such incidents. The festival should not be treated like a competition and limitation on the height is necessary."
While Patil hasn't received any reply from the government yet, the police department has given a positive response by assuring to comply with the safety measures given by the High Court in every mandal.
TRAGEDIES IN THE PAST
- Last year over 117 govindas who had formed a human pyramid were injured across the city.
- Two govindas lost their lives. While one Govinda died in Palgahr due to epileptic attack, another one in Airoli died due to electrocution.
