HC praises Nagpur Rural Police for tracing nylon manja to Silvassa unit, seeks similar action in Vidarbha

The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has praised the Nagpur Rural Police for its efforts in the fight against banned nylon manja. The police traced a major source of the dangerous kite string to a manufacturing unit in Silvassa, where goods worth more than Rs 6 crore were seized.

A division bench of Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Rajnish Vyas was on Friday hearing a public interest litigation initiated by the court on its own over the nylon manja problem. The bench commended the Superintendent of Police (Rural), Nagpur, and the team. The court also observed, however, that the success came late, as the action followed its strong displeasure on October 12 over the lack of any probe into the supply network.

The bench had earlier sought the names of the officers held responsible for the lack of progress in tracing the sources of the banned string. The police action since then appears to have given the investigation a major lead.

In an affidavit filed in court, the SP (Rural) said that after getting information on the supply network, the police conducted raids and reached the manufacturing source in Silvassa. The affidavit also mentions some other suspected sources, which the police are now trying to trace. The bench said the probe showed that the police can get to the root of the problem when they are determined.

The court expects similar action in the other 10 districts of Vidarbha. It hopes the police will adopt the same method there to trace the networks supplying banned nylon manja. Officers must submit a detailed affidavit covering all districts by October 29.

The direction aims to take the action beyond Nagpur and break the supply chains through which the dangerous string is reaching the region. Some kite flyers use nylon manja heavily, but its sharp and strong strings pose a serious danger to people, birds and animals. The court wants agencies not to stop at local seizures but to reach those who make and sell it. Advocate Nishchay Jadhav assisted the court as amicus curiae. The petition will next be heard on October 29.

The bench also looked at the disposal of seized nylon manja, a matter first placed before the court by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). The MPCB had told the district collectors of Nagpur, Bhandara, Gondia and Wardha that the seized goods could be destroyed at a cement factory. At Friday's hearing, the state government told the court that the seized manja had been crushed.

Since the cement factory concerned is in Chandrapur, the court asked officers to obtain the necessary permission and dispose of the seized goods properly. They have 15 days for this and must then file a statement confirming the disposal. The aim is that seized manja does not lie in a warehouse and does not return to the market.

The question of action against the police officers whose names were sought at the previous hearing also came before the bench. The court did not form a final view on disciplinary action, but said it could consider not proceeding against the officers if they show hard work and exceptional dedication in tracing the sources of supply. The question of accountability thus remains open, and the officers have a chance to show results in the probe.

At the October 29 hearing, the court will review the progress of the supply chain probe across Vidarbha and the steps taken to dispose of the seized goods.