No IPL in the State after April 30, says Bombay High Court [Read Order]

Justices VM Kanade and MS Karnik of the Bombay High Court have directed that the thirteen IPL matches scheduled to be held Maharashtra after April 30, will now be organised outside the State..This order came after deliberations that took up the entire post-lunch session yesterday, and most of the post-lunch session today..In response to yesterday’s query, BCCI’s counsel Rafiq Dada, informed the court that both, Pune and Mumbai franchises were willing to donate Rs. 5 crores to the CM’s drought relief fund. Furthermore, the Maharashtra Cricket Association and the Mumbai Cricket Association were willing to donate 64 lakh litres of water, the amount used for pitches in Mumbai, to drought affected areas..An undertaking was also given by the RWITC stating that they will be supplying 7-8 tankers per match to these stadiums in Mumbai and Pune..Lastly, the Vidarbha Cricket Association informed the bench that they are sourcing all the water from their own wells, and hence no outside source would be used..Summing up the entire issue, acting AG Rohit Deo made the following submissions:.The water being used for these matches is non-portable. Hence there is no misuse, what role can we play? The government will not be taking a judgemental position (with reference to IPL) in this regard..Based on the Maharashtra government’s affidavit submitted by Deo yesterday, Kanade J recorded in his order that,.The state has sought to pass the buck on to the BMC as far as the question of source of water for tankers is concerned, no specific reply has been given. We are disturbed by this stand taken by the State. The ultimate responsibility lies with the State..According to Clause 10 of their affidavit, the state has no issues in shifting these matches outside, but State has made sure to mention the total loss of revenue loss if such a decision is taken (Rs.1.50 crore/match). .State cannot expect the corporation to reply regarding the source of water when the State is reeling under such severe drought..The High Court had earlier said that it expected cricket associations to come forward and take some initiative but no decision was taken..“Shifting these matches alone won’t solve the problem but it can be a beginning as the water used for these pitches can be diverted to the effected areas.”.The court also said that the allotment of water from RWITC cannot be monitored by the State throughout the IPL, and hence the solutions given were not satisfactory..As of now, it is not clear whether this order will be challenged. According to this report, IPL head Rajeev Shukla has said that the league is working on an “alternative plan” for shifting the matches..The IPL is also under judicial scrutiny in Karnataka, where a PIL has been filed in the Karnataka High Court..Read the order of the Bombay High Court below.