The Delhi High Court today asked the Centre and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to consider the representation seeking roll back of the fees which has been recently hiked for using facilities at various stadiums in the national capital.
"Representation by petitioner (Shailendra) be considered by the officer of the respondents (Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, SAI and Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee swimming pool complex)," Justice Vibhu Bakhru said.
The court disposed of the plea asking the Sports Ministry to consider the request of a 65-year-old petitioner, a regular swimmer for about 50 years, within four weeks.
Shailendra has submitted that in November 2011, the then Sports Minister had unveiled a programme -- 'Come and Play Scheme' -- for usage of SAI stadiums to encourage large-scale participation in sports and optimal utilisation of the stadiums and the facilities therein.
Under the scheme, the facilities were available free of cost to people below poverty line and at one-third rates to students of government schools with the purpose of encouraging sports at every level of society to find and nurture talent for international sporting events, the petition said.
Thereafter, on August 5, 2014, the SAI had revised the fees under the scheme with effect from July 11, 2014 for all stadiums including the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee swimming pool complex, the petition said, adding that the hike was manifold.
The petitioner, who holds membership card under 'Come and Play Scheme' said that earlier the monthly fees for using the pool, at any time of the year, was Rs 300 for those below 25 years of age and Rs 500 for those who were older, but post- revision the monthly charges were fixed at Rs 2500 and Rs 3000 for summers and winters and had sought quashing of the fee hike.
