 "IPL")
The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea by the Maharashtra and Mumbai Cricket Associations against the Bombay High Court order directing the shifting of Indian Premier League cricket matches outside the drought-hit state.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India T S Thakur was initially inclined to allow the matches in Maharashtra with strict conditions. However, the dismissed the petition and said let the matches be shifted out of the state.
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Senior advocates P Chidambaram and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the state bodies, sought a stay on the order, saying 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 six million litres of water would be required for maintenance of the grounds on the eve of the matches.
Chidambaram refuted this. He said the stadiums would be need 10,000 litres a day for six days and potable water would not be used.
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.
