Social activist files PIL in Delhi HC to stop IPL players auction

The players’ auction is a big attraction of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and thus the excitement begins quite a few months before the start of the real tournament. Players are released, retained and ‘bought’ by franchises as per the demands of the season. The system has been around for over a decade now as the 12th edition of the IPL was successfully completed just recently. However, a public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed to stop the IPL players’ auction.

Unlike the IPL, many other T20 leagues use different approaches to categorize players across teams. For example, the Caribbean Premier League, Pakistan Super League and Hong Kong Blitz use a draft system which has multiple rounds, like the system followed in US sports – with each player’s price determined by the round they are drawn in. The draft format is much simpler than the live players’ auction held ahead of every IPL season.

Sure the IPL’s way is more exciting but since the draft system is more reliable and easier, more and more leagues are taking it up. In the draft system, the advantage is each side gets a pick each round and that ensures that each spends an identical sum of money. Even the England & Wales Cricket Board’s new 100-ball competition intends to use a player draft too. Perhaps, the conventional system is more appreciated all over.

IPL players’ auction is a mockery to the legal system, says, petitioner

Coming back to the PIL, it has been filed against the said players’ auction system in the Delhi High Court on Monday. The petition has alleged that the ‘auction of human beings’ is illegal. Sudhir Sharma is a social activist and has claimed that bidding of players in the Indian Premier League is a violation of constitutional and statutory rights.

Sharma has put forward his plea to the Government to look into the matter related to “international human auctioning”. Sharma has alleged that such operations have promoted corruption and nepotism by selling of players through open bidding. He has further blamed the Government for remaining a silent spectator to the illegal act all this while and that it has failed to regulate, ban, stop and curb the menace of human bidding and selling through human bidding.

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“The IPL is organising human auctions above law, which is mockery of the legal system and affecting the serious issue of right to equality provided by the constitution of India to the citizens,” the petitioner was quoted as saying. His plea has also solicited orders to conduct an inquiry and launch an action against the guilty.

 The hearing on the same will be held on July 26 with the division bench headed by Chief Justice Rajendra Menon.