Court ruling helps Kotla keep fourth Test
We said this amount was unrealistic. Then the court decided that we had to pay ` 1 crore within a month. That is a relief and we are ready to pay off. We have requested the BCCI to give us ` 10 crore. We have submitted the balance sheet for 2013-14 and processing the one for 2014-15
RAVINDER MANCHANDA, DDCA treasurer
NEW DELHI: The anxious wait to know whether Delhi’ s Ferozeshah Kotla would be retained for the final Test against South Africa ended on Thursday after the high court announced it would have to play only ` 1 crore as entertainment tax dues.
The Delhi high court directed the city government not to withhold the No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the Test starting on Dec 3 after the DDCA agreed to deposit the sum. The court also directed the AAP government not to take any coercive measures against DDCA in connection with the ` 24-crore entertain- ment tax demand raised by the excise department. The DDCA wants amendments in the relevant act to be annulled and the demand withdrawn.
The court had ordered the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) on Wednesday to issue the temporary occupancy certificate and asked DDCA to deposit ` 50 lakh as property tax before the Test.
REDUCED DEMAND On Thursday, it directed the DDCA to pay entertainment tax dues of ` 1 crore in two equal instalments, within a month. The first instalment will have to be paid in 15 days. Although the court has paved the way for DDCA to stage the match, condi- tions apply and the DDCA will have to clear a sum of ` 1.5 crore within a month.
Getting the occupancy certificate was the most vital thing for DDCA to retain the Test. With no clear information on the outstanding entertainment tax amount from the excise department, the DDCA had requested the court to take a call.
“We said this amount (`24 crore) was unrealistic. Then the court decided that we have to pay ` 1 crore within a month. That is a relief and we are ready to pay,” DDCA treasurer Ravinder Manchanda told HT.
The state unit, facing charges over many irregularities, is short on funds as the cricket Board has not released grants due to non-submission of annual accounts.
However, Manchanda said: “We have requested the BCCI to give us ` 10 crore but let’s see how much money they credit into our account. We have submitted the balance sheets for 2013-14 and processing the one for 2014-15. So, we are hopeful of clearing our tax issues before the Test.”
He said the BCCI has assured release of ` 2.5 crore immediately and ` 2.5 crore in a week.
The BCCI is now expected to take a call on the match venue. Although it has named Pune as the alternate venue, Kotla should now retain the match. The next hearing will be held on Nov 27.