The Madras High Court on Monday dismissed a petition seeking to restrain official authorities from conducting any cricket match and allowing any member of the public to sit in the M.A. Chidambaram Cricket Stadium, Chepauk, until it is reconstructed and safety ensured.
In his petition, J. Mohanraj, general secretary, Jebamani Janata Party, said that the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association had written to the Chennai Collector on April 2 last year stating that the stadium super structure would be demolished and a new stadium constructed as the present structure had outlived its purpose — it had become weak, cracks had developed in the columns and beams, chunks of concrete were falling down. Structural engineers of repute had advised that demolition was the only way out.
Advocate-General P.S. Raman submitted a certificate dated March 10 issued by the Executive Engineer, PWD, which stated that the stadium was found to be structurally sound, except the areas in A, B and C Blocks, to conduct IPL Twenty20 Season Three matches.
He said these blocks were being newly constructed. A stability certificate was issued by the Superintending Engineer on March 12 and 27 for the new blocks A, B and C.
In its order, the First Bench, comprising Chief Justice H.L. Gokhale and Justice V. Dhanapalan, said in view of the certificates issued by engineers concerned, it had no reason to take a different view.
