HC declines to direct police from regulating sale of kites

Disposing of a petition, Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar in his order said, "..Considering death of persons due to "Maanja" threads (glass-laced kite string), police authorities have taken a decision to regulate sale and flying of kites, purely on public safety."

"It is a well accepted principle of law that when private interest and public interest of public safety are pitted against each other, public interest alone will prevail. Hence, the prayer of the petitioner not to restrict to 'Maanja' with coating cannot be accepted."

The petitioner, Chennai "Katradi Urpathiyalargal and Virpanayalargal Sangam" (Chennai Kites Manufactures and Sellers Association) prayed for the court's direction to forbear Chennai Commissioner of Police and other respondents, from interfering with the production and sale of kites and threads by its members in Chennai.

The petitioner contended that the police authorities had recently prevented its members from manufacturing and sale of kites and threads without any justification and their interference affected their business.

Chennai Police Commissioner in its counter said it was found that some of the petitioner's members were purchasing threads from reputed industries and they were being further strengthened by applying rice paste, stone powder, sometimes, even crushed glass powder to make it cut opponent's kite, which was believed to be the reasons behind death of two persons in the recent past.

Police were preventing them only from manufacturing threads with 'Maanja' and they were not against manufacturing or selling kites, the Commissioner said.