The Karnataka High Court on Thursday directed the State government to conduct an inquiry into the manner in which the Stadium Management Committee’s secretary signed an agreement with JSW Bengaluru Football Club in 2014 to allow the club use of Sree Kanteerava outdoor stadium for football matches for a period of three years, and allowing the club to use the stadium for another year after expiry of the agreement.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice H.T. Narendra Prasad passed the order on a PIL petition filed in 2017 by a group of athletes and coaches, including V.R. Beedu and Ashwini Nachappa, both international athlete coaches.
Observing that the manner in which the agreement was signed was contrary to the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court on use of playgrounds, the bench directed the State to submit by October 14 the inquiry report and the action initiated against the persons concerned based on the inquiry.
Meanwhile, the bench accepted an undertaking by the State that it would follow a transparent process if the stadium has to be given on lease, or grant of license for use of the stadium to any organisations in future.
Claiming that the stadium was built exclusively for track and field games, the petitioners had alleged that the Youth Empowerment and Sports Department had illegally allowed use of the stadium for football matches though the city has a separate stadium for football.
