Seeking to strike a fine balance between religious rituals and safety measures, the Bombay High Court on Monday asked the city police to ensure that no minor
carries sharp weapons and hurt themselves during the annual Muharram procession. A bench of justices R M Savant and Sadhana Jadhav gave the direction to the police while examining the issue suo moto (on its own), based on a December 2014 police circular, dealing with the safety measures for minors during the ritual.

The circular mandated senior police officials of various police stations to hold meetings with Mohalla Committees prior to Muharram to ensure that children do not participate in the ritual, they use no sharp weapons in the procession and the entire procession be video-graphed. The police today told the court that they had held a meeting with several community leaders who gave an undertaking that children would not use or carry weapons and sharp objects during the procession and that they would not hurt themselves.

"Minors taking part in the Muharram procession shall not be forced to injure themselves. Minors will not be allowed to inflict injuries on themselves and no one else would be permitted to injure the minors. The procession will be video-graphed," said a report submitted by Additional Commissioner of Police (South region) Pravin Padval.