HC poses hard question to cricket bodies

A Division Bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Vibha Kankanwadi asked for a clarification to determine the priority for supplying water for the matches in future, as per the Water Policy

Bombay High Court on Friday once again raked up the issue of IPL matches and sought clarification if the tournament can be categorised as a “commercial or sports” activity. The HC has posed this question to Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

A Division Bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Vibha Kankanwadi asked for a clarification to determine the priority for supplying water for the matches in future, as per the Water Policy.

According to the Maharashtra government’s Water Policy, the supply of water to commercial events is listed on the third out of the four levels.

Justice Oka said, “It (IPL) would ultimately be in the commercial category but still we want to know from you (MCA and BCCI). We want to know your stand on if IPL comes in sports or commercial activities.”

The Bench accordingly asked the cricket bodies to file a detailed reply with the clarification sought before August 10.

Meanwhile, counsels appearing for BCCI and MCA also informed the Bench that the cricket bodies have decided not to take water from the BMC in future, in case droughts hit the state again.

Advocate A Khandeparkar said, “We would not use BMC provided water for pitches and grounds for IPL matches in future. However, we would use water for local tournaments of colleges and schools etc.”

After hearing the submissions advanced, Justice Oka asked BCCI and MCA to spell out their statements in an affidavit.

This comes after the BCCI moved an application before the Bench seeking its deletion from the list of respondents and praying that the petition be disposed of.

In the earlier hearing, Justice Oka asked BCCI to furnish a statement saying it will not organise any match in future if Maharashtra reels under water scarcity.

In April last year, another Bench headed by Justice Vidyasagar Kanade directed BCCI and other cricket bodies to shift all IPL matches out of the state.