HC refuses to stay TNPL in Tirunelveli, directs to ensure adequate safety

Refusing to stay the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) matches scheduled to be held at the ICL cricket ground in Tirunelveli, the Madurai bench of the Madras high court on Monday directed the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) to conduct the matches at the ICL cricket ground at Bala Vidyalaya School with adequate safety measures.

The division bench headed by Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Puspha Sathyanarayana disposed the public interest litigation filed by A E Rajan seeking an interim injunction restraining the TNCA from conducting the tournament at ICL ground and direction to shift to any other place.

The petitioner’s stance

The petitioner told the court that 32 matches would be played over the course of the tournament. Which includes eight matches in Chennai, 11 in Dindigul and 13 in Tirunelveli. In Tirunelveli, 12 league matches and one semi-final match will take place at the ICL ground in Bala Vidyalaya School, run by India Cements.

However, Rajan claimed that TNCA had not taken adequate measures with regards to safety. It set up a roof for VIP Gallery but the roof is not set up for public gallery which may lead to health hazards. He raised the point that because ICL cricket ground has a single entrance, and is adjacent to National Highways 44, it may lead to accidents if visitors come to the highway at the end of the match. Around 3,000 people can be accommodated in the ground. There had been many accidents on NH 44 earlier as well.

TNCA’s defence

The TNCA in their defence said that sufficient gates have been set up there. And that matches were conducted last year as well, during which there were no untoward incidents. The government also reiterated that permission was given after conducting proper inspection. The Tirunelveli collector and the president in particular were asked to ensure adequate infrastructure and safety measures at the ground.