Delhi HC restrains ICL from filing suit against BCCI in UK

Allowing the plea of the BCCI, a single member bench of Justice Rajiv Shakdher has directed Essel Sports, who has already sent legal notice to the cricket regulator, not to take any action till the next hearing.

The court agreed BCCI's submissions that Essel Sports has already filed a case in Delhi High Court in 2007 alleging collusion with IPL over boycott of players and use of stadium and any further new suit on the same issue in UK would make it more "vexatious and oppressive."

Agreeing with it, the court said, "I am of the opinion that in the event the plaintiff is not protected it may be exposed to the proceeding which may perhaps be both vexatious and oppressive.

"In these circumstances, Essel Sports be restrained from instituting an action in the courts or tribunals in United Kingdom as indicated ... till next date of hearing," the court said.

Essel Sports had sent a legal notice to BCCI on November 11 threatening to file a suit in the High Court of England and Wales in London seeking various reliefs and damages against the BCCI, the England and Wales Cricket Board and the International Cricket Council for not recognising it.

Essel Sports had said in the notice that if they did not receive a full and satisfactory substantive response from the BCCI by December 7, 2009, they would file proceedings in the English Court.

Meanwhile, issuing a release BCCI said "in a suit filed by the BCCI before the Delhi High Court for an anti-suit injunction against Essel Sports (Indian Cricket League), the Delhi High Court passed an order restraining Essel Sports (ICL) from filing a suit in the Courts of the UK against the BCCI." PTI AT KRH PDS PDS 12082205