The renovated I, J and K stands at the M.A.Chidambaram Stadium are ready for use for the India-Pakistan one-day international cricket match on December 30. The government submitted before the Madras High Court that an earlier court order has been complied with.
Following the submission, a vacation Bench comprising Justices K. Venkataraman and K.B.K. Vasuki treated a contempt petition as closed. The Chennai Corporation on Friday scrambled to de-seal the stands, hours after coming to know of the petition.
On December 17, the High Court had directed the authorities to permit the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association to use the stadium, including the three stands, for the one-day international. It directed the association to indemnify the authorities from any claim that may arise pursuant to the use of the three stands.
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Stating that the Corporation Commissioner Vikram Kapur had wilfully disobeyed the court order, the TNCA filed a contempt applicationseeking to punish the official. The association said that pursuant to the December 17 order, it sent a letter to the civic body with a request to open the three stands. The association, represented by its honorary secretary, K.S. Viswanathan, said it had sold over 13,000 tickets for the three stands. The Chennai Corporation had not responded to its letter, nor acted on it. The stands were yet to be opened.
When the matter came up before the Bench, the Government Pleader (GP) S. Venkatesh produced the proceedings of the Chennai Corporation about the de-sealing of the three stands.
In the order, Messrs. Justices Venkataraman and Vasuki said the GP reported that the court order of December 17 had been complied with.
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Meanwhile, the association told the court that tickets for the match would be issued to the clubs which had filed applications before the court.
Earlier, a team of corporation officials of Teynampet zone had rushed to the stadium at 1.45 p.m. to de-seal the three stands. The civic body, a few hours later, informed the court that the stands have been de-sealed. Work on preparing the stands for the match started after the completion of the de-sealing operations. Over 37,000 spectators will be able to watch the ODI between India and Pakistan on Sunday.