HC refuses DDCA’s plea to use RP Mehra block for World T20

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday refused to entertain the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA)’s plea, seeking permission to use RP Mehra block at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium for conducting the World T20 semi-final match. The court has asked the DDCA to talk to the International Cricket Council (ICC) in this regard.

The DDCA approached the High Court in a writ petition seeking orders for the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) to issue a completion certificate for the RP Mehra block, claiming that the “unauthorized” structure inside the stadium can be said to have been “regularized” under the provisions of the Government of National Capital territory of Delhi (Special laws) Act of 2011.

DDCA has been in the news for some time now and precisely for wrong reasons. BJP MP and former India cricketer Kirti Azad and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had alleged corruption in DDCA against Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. BJP MP and a Senior Lawyer Ram Jethmalani had also accused Jaitley of corruption and will fight in the court case. Retired IPS Officer KPS Gill had also accused Jaitley of corruption in Hockey Federation of India.

Azad is now suspended from the party for anti party activities. On 17, November 2015 Sanghi Committee gave a report to the Chief Minister of Delhi highlighting glaring irregularities in the affairs of DDCA and recommendation setting up of a Commission of Enquiry to thoroughly probe the matter.

Azad on Monday told Delhi High Court that no allegations were attributed to him in the civil defamation suit filed by DDCA against him and the Chief Minister for their alleged remarks about the functioning and finances of the cricket body. Azad’s counsel told Justice V Kameswar Rao that in the plaint filed by the DDCA, there was a reference to 14 newspaper articles but there were no specific allegations against his client.