IPL 2024: PIL filed in High Court to halt cricket matches at Mullanpur Stadium in Mohali

A PIL (Public Interest Litigation) has been lodged with the Punjab and Haryana High Court to restrain the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and other concerned parties from organizing cricket matches at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Mohali. The petition is filed in the High Court by counsel Sunaina. The stadium which is spread over more than 41 acres and boasts a seating capacity of 33,000 was established in 2021. 

Nikhil Thamman, a law student, in his PIL, targeted the Punjab state and other respondents, asserting that the construction of the stadium was "unauthorized." He underlined that the construction blatantly violated the Environment Impact Assessment Notification of 2006 issued by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. 

He also claimed that the authorities did not obtain the mandatory forest and wildlife clearance under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, from the National Board of Wildlife. Notably, as per his PIL, the project falls within the 10 km radius of the bird sanctuary in Sector 21, Chandigarh.

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The petitioner also requested directives to prohibit the BCCI-PCA from organizing Indian Premier League (IPL) matches. Furthermore, he also sought an immediate injunction against the BCCI's sale of match tickets for the IPL. Notably, Punjab Kings played their first match in the IPL 2024 at the Mullanpur Stadium against Delhi Capitals on March 23.

According to the petitioner, the notification dated September 14, 2006, stipulated that environmental clearance must be obtained from the Central Government for the construction of projects exceeding 1.5 lakh sq m of built-up area. He further mentioned the instructions issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests on March 15, 2011. The letter stated that the user agency must obtain prior clearance from the standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife if the project site is within the eco-sensitive zone or within 10 km of it.

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 “As of now, no eco-sensitive zone has been declared around the two wildlife sanctuaries of the UT Chandigarh. Therefore, all projects falling within the 10 km radius of the boundary of two bird sanctuaries –– Chandigarh City Bird Sanctuary in Sector 21 and Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary –– were required to seek environment clearance," the petitioner added as quoted by The Tribue.