18 minimum age, no human pyramid above 20 feet: SC on Dahi-Handi event

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the Bombay High Court ruling that the height of human pyramids should not exceed 20 feet.   The apex court also said that children below 18 years should not be allowed in the Dahi Handi event.   In 2012, 170 people were admitted and in 2013, 190 people were seriously injured out of which 160 people were in the casualty department during the event, the petitioner said in the hearing.   Earlier, the 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 last week pulled up the government for its failure to obtain clarification from the apex court in this regard.   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.