The Supreme Court will hear on Tuesday an application from the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) seeking permission to use the I, J and K stands in the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk for the IPL match between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Daredevils slated for the evening.
A Bench of Justices B.S. Chauhan and Dipak Misra posted the application for hearing after counsel Amit Sibal and senior counsel Bharat Raman, appearing for the TNCA, made a mention about the sealing of the three stands by Chennai Corporation. The sealing followed an apex court order on May 10 staying an earlier Madras High Court decision upholding the construction of the stands.
Mr. Raman submitted that thousands of tickets had been sold for Tuesday’s match, including for the three stands sealed by the Corporation on Sunday.
Counsel Yogesh Khanna, appearing for the Corporation, told the court that the stands were constructed without approval.
Justice Chauhan, in a lighter vein told Mr. Raman: “Why don’t you give passes to Corporation officials. You know how it works.” The Bench then agreed to hear the matter on Tuesday morning.
On May 10, a Bench of Justices G.S. Singhvi and Ranjana Desai had entertained an appeal from the Corporation and stayed the High Court order restraining the appellant and the CMDA from interfering in the usage of the said stands. The Corporation contended that the three stands were not in use since August 2011 and were constructed without any approval.
The TNCA then filed an application for allowing the match to be held as scheduled. The TNCA, in its application challenging the sealing of the three stands, said that over 11,000 tickets, including complimentary tickets, had been issued for the match. If spectators were not allowed in the three stands, it would result in a law and order situation in the stadium as the TNCA was not in a position to accommodate them in other stands.
Many a slip
2011: Modernisation of I, J, and K stands with seating capacity of around 11,000 spectators completed
2011: Chennai Corporation issues notice to seal the stands
December 2012: High Court allows conduct of ODI match. TNCA files contempt petition after Corporation delays de-sealing. Stands opened for India-Pakistan match
February 2013: HC sets aside orders restraining TNCA from using the stands
May 10: Supreme Court stays HC order
May 12: Chennai Corporation seals the I, J and K stands yet again
May 13: PWD cancels structural soundness certificate for stadium
