Supreme Court dismisses MCA’s plea against shifting matches out of Maharashtra

IPL matches to be shifted out of Maharashtra due to severe drought. Image Source: File Pic
Supreme Court rejected MCA’s plea against shifting matches out of Maharashtra. File Pic

Internet Desk: The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the possibility of IPL matches in Mumbai and Maharashtra during the month of May. The apex court dismissed Maharashtra and Mumbai Cricket Associations’ plea against the Bombay High Court order directing shifting of Indian Premier League matches outside the drought-hit state.

According to the Supreme Court order, no matches will be held in Maharashtra after May 1.

A bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur was initially inclined to allow the matches in Maharashtra with some strict conditions like the stadium authorities will not be permitted to use “even a drop of potable water” for their matches. However, the bench also comprising Justices R Banumathi and UU Lalit dismissed the petition and said that let the matches be shifted out of the state.

The Bombay High Court had on April 13 ordered shifting of all IPL matches scheduled in Maharashtra after April 30 to another state in view of the severe drought in the state.

The two state cricket bodies had moved the apex court on April 22 against the Bombay High Court verdict and had claimed in their plea that instead of potable water, treated sewage water would be used for cricket pitches.

As per the HC’s order, the matches, including the final in Mumbai scheduled for May 29, cannot be held in Maharashtra. The high court’s direction had come even as BCCI had given an assurance that IPL franchises of Mumbai and Pune had agreed to contribute Rs five crore to Chief Minister’s drought relief fund.