SC dismisses plea against Bombay HC order on IPL matches

The Supreme Court today dismissed the plea 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.

The bench, during the hearing, sought response from the lawyers about the claim that 60 lakh litres of water would be required for maintenance of the grounds on the eve of IPL matches which were scheduled to be played in the state.

Chidambaram referred to certain letters and 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 60 lakh litres of water would be required and said that at best, 60,000 litres of treated water would be used for watering the grounds which would be brought in tankers.

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.

The Bombay High Court had on April 13 ordered shifting of all IPL matches scheduled in Maharashtra after April 30 to another state in view of the severe drought in the state.
The two state cricket bodies had moved the apex court on April 22 against the Bombay High Court verdict and had claimed in their plea that instead of potable water, treated sewage water would be used for cricket pitches.

As per the HC's order, the matches, including the final in Mumbai scheduled for May 29, cannot be held in Maharashtra.

The high court's direction had come even as BCCI had given an assurance that IPL franchises of Mumbai and Pune had agreed to contribute Rs five crore to Chief Minister's drought relief fund.

The HC order had come on a PIL by NGO 'Loksatta Movement' which had challenged the alleged use of over 60 lakh litres of water for ground management despite drought in the state and had sought that all matches be shifted out of Maharashtra.