The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed at the admission stage a writ petition for a direction to the authorities concerned to hold Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket matches only during the day instead of under floodlights at nights.
Petitioners Howrah Ganatantrik Nagarik Samity, Subhas Datta and Subhash Chandra Basu, had submitted in a petition that the matches being played in various cities during evening and nights would result in power shortage and prove detrimental to the environment.
It said, “in order to cater to the requirements of cricket matches, there will be accelerated power cuts in more and more areas because the deficit is acute during peak hours. It is evident from data of the Central Electricity Authority that shortfall in power supply during peak hours of March and April 2008 was more severe than in 2009, when IPL matches were shifted to South Africa.”
When the petition came up for hearing before a three-judge Bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justices Deepak Verma and B.S. Chauhan, the CJI told counsel for the petitioners: “Every day about 60,000 persons watch these matches. Do you want these persons not to do any work during day time.”
“Power situation is stable”
When counsel said holding matches during nights would result in power shortage, the CJI said, “The power situation is stable. These are not matters to be decided by courts. We cannot entertain such petitions.”
The petition pointed out that India had made a commitment to the international community to reduce its carbon emission intensity by 20 to 25 per cent by 2020. It was a fact that for one unit of power generated, 0.7 kg of coal was consumed and the same emitted 1.25 to 1.50 kg of carbon dioxide.
