IPL 2012: TNCA allowed to use unauthorised stands for matches

Chennai Super KIngs will take on Delhi Daredevils on Friday at M A Chidambaram stadium © AFP

Chennai: May 24, 2012

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The Madras High Court on Thursday allowed the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association to use three stands, declared as unauthorised by the state government, of the M A Chidambaram stadium here during the semi-finals and finals of the Indian Premier League on May 25 and 27 respectively.

Giving the interim injunction, valid for a week, on a petition by the TNCA, the court directed the Association to provide a written undertaking to ensure the safety, security and maintenance aspects of the ‘I’, ‘J’ and ‘K’ stands and posted the petition for hearing after two weeks.

A division bench, comprising Justices V Dhanapalan and T Mathivanan, made it clear that the order would be subject to the outcome of petitions being heard pertaining to the stands.

Chennai Super Kings take on Delhi Daredevils on Friday and the winner of that match will play against Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL final on May 27.

“There is a prima facie case made out and there shall be an interim injunction in the light of the proposed event to be held on May 25 and May 27. The petitioner (TNCA) is, however, directed to give an undertaking to the Chennai Corporation Commissioner in respect of the safety, security and maintenance of the I, J and K stands, the Bench said.

“Strongly opposing the use of the stands, the state Advocate General A Navaneethakrishnan described the three stands as ‘unauthorised constructions’ without proper planning permission and approval from the authorities concerned.

“The structure is unauthorised and in violation of the rules,” he said.

Senior advocate P S Raman, appearing on behalf of the TNCA, submitted that an application for planning permit and building sanction for I, J and K stands, with a total seating capacity for 13,100 spectators was made on May 17, 2010.

Raman said on the basis of approvals already granted for the construction of six stands, which were completed, work on the three new stands commenced in anticipation of the approval.

He said both the games would cap “the most popular and successful” edition of the IPL, which would be lost to about 13,000 spectators if the three stands were not opened to public.

The spectacle of millions of TV viewers seeing three new stands stands empty on the final days of the tournament would hurt the pride and honour not only of the TNCA and its members but each and every cricketing lover in the state and also the BCCI, he said.

Raman said BCCI planned to use the revenue from ticket sales at the two games to honour cricketing greats, who had served the nation.

Besides, depriving the petitioner of the opportunity to fill the entire stadium would also deprive the state of entertainment tax levied at 25 per cent of the gross collection.

He said the TNCA had written to the Chennai Corporation Commissioner on May 17 last seeking permission to use the three stands.

However, there was no reply. He said the association had again on May 20 sent another communication to the commissioner, setting out all the relevant factors which pointed to the ‘obvious necessity to the three stands without any fear that the construction is not in conformity with the Development Control Rules or CRZ requirements.

There was again no response and the association went ahead with sale of tickets for the matches, including the three stands.

The association, he said, received a telephone call from the city police informing that the Corporation had instructed it to stop the sale of tickets and ensure that the I, J and K stands were not used by the association. He said once Environment Impact Assessment clearance and CZMA had been secured,the corporation could not object to use of the stands.

He said following a direction from the ICC to cricket stadia accross the world to improve the stadia with modern features, the TNCA initially modernised nine of the 12 stands in the Chepauk stadium, with a capacity of 39,000 spectators.

The association sought to quash an August 8 last notice from the corporation pertaining to the construction following an approval letter from the state government of May 16 last to the CMDA granting approval to the recommendation of the multi-storeyed building panel for issue of planning permission to the TNCA inter alia for the I,J and K stands. (PTI)