In a bid to ensure public safety, the Gujarat High Court has banned all forms of glass-coated threads, commonly known as manja, that were used for flying kites. The high court had issued this order ahead of the popular Uttarayan festival, during which one of the most popular customs of the tradition is flying kites.Case Background Several issues emerged from this situation, which were that the glass-coated threads meant to slice up other kites were slicing humans, animals, and birds into pieces and pieces. Several incidents of severe laceration that sometimes turn out to be fatal and many wild animals are found maimed or killed in the process surfaced over the past few years. The petitioners argued that dangerous threads should strictly be regulated or even banned since these threads adversely affect public health, animal welfare, and the environment. Observations of the Court The Gujarat High Court admitted that there was a severe danger in using manja. It said that public safety was of utmost importance, and nothing could be placed above recreational activities. The court mentioned that the existence of such a ban did not help to solve the issue of availability in markets through illegal means. It observed, "Use of glass-coated threads will put human life in danger along with the infringement of rights of animals and creates disturbance in ecological balance. This is the high time when complete ban is necessary to save human life and nature." Order and Judgment It passed an order to the state government to the effect that it must: Ban on production, sale, purchase, and use of glass-coated threads, be it nylon or synthetic. Severe measures such as raids and punishment to check the circulation of the banned threads. Public awareness campaign about the hazards of manja and promotion of cotton threads as safer alternatives. The court has ordered the authority to establish helpline for filing violations and speedy action against culprits. Importance of Judgment In this background, a timely action preventing injuries and loss of human lives during Uttarayan is reflective of the judicial activism in defense of public cause and environmental preservation. Kite flying would continue to remain a part of cultural celebrations, but responsible practices would prevail over the judicial ruling that emphasized the safety issue. The very purpose of the ban is to enable Uttarayan to become a fun-filled celebration free from the threat of preventable tragedies.