Maharashtra is off-limits for IPL
India’s Supreme Court backs a high court verdict, rejects Maharashtra Cricket Association’s appeal.
mumbai — The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed the plea of Maharashtra and Mumbai Cricket Associations against the Bombay High Court order directing shifting of IPL matches outside the drought-hit state.
A bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur was initially inclined to allow the matches in Maharashtra with some strict conditions like the stadium authorities will not be permitted to use “even a drop of potable water” for their matches. However, the bench also comprising Justices R Banumathi and U U Lalit dismissed the petition and said that let the matches be shifted out of the state.
At the outset, senior advocate P Chidambaram and A M Singhvi, appearing for the state cricket bodies, sought a stay on the Bombay High Court order, saying that they will not be using potable water for any cricketing activity in stadiums in Mumbai and Pune and rather use treated sewage water. Chidambaram said that the stadiums would be needing 10,000 litres a day for six days and potable water will not be used.
He refuted the claim that six million litres of water would be required. Considering the submissions, the bench said, “We will direct the civic bodies to disconnect the drinking water to the establishment and not a drop of potable water will be used. We will appoint a judicial officer who, with the help of police, will ensure that drinking water is not used.”
The court later dismissed the plea after having noted it would be better to shift the matches out rather than to create a situation where all kinds of regulations would be needed. The dismissal of the petition would lead to relocation of five IPL matches which were to be played at homegrounds of IPL franchises — Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiants. Meanwhile, the Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday asked for the state government’s response to a PIL, which sought a ban on holding IPL matches in the pink city alleging that it will lead to wastage of thousands of litres of precious water.
Observing that the matter is of great significance as Rajasthan suffers from acute water shortage in summer, a bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and DC Somani issued a notice to state government asking it to file its reply by April 30. It asked the state government to file the plan and policy for management of potable water supply to public in next two months.
It was hearing the PIL filed by Mahesh Pareek on April 22 which said that Jaipur city has been put in dark zone by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) due to depletion of ground water and the proposed IPL match at Jaipur will lead to wastage of around 80 lakh litres of water.