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Saturday, Apr 09, 2005

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Supreme Court moved against ODI at Ferozeshah Kotla

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI, APRIL 8. The Supreme Court's intervention has been sought to stop holding of the sixth one day international cricket match between India and Pakistan to be played at the Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium here on April 17, alleging that it was structurally unsafe to hold 30,000 spectators.

A Bench, comprising Chief Justice R.C. Lahoti and Justice G.P. Mathur, posted for hearing on April 11 an application filed by the Society for Safe Structures questioning the occupancy certificate and permission granted by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) for holding the match.

The applicant submitted that there were several reports in the media recently stating that the MCD had admitted that it was under tremendous pressure to give clearance as the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, was expected to watch the match though the stadium was still under construction.

`Bogus certificate'

The petitioner said that due to the intervention of the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and the Prime Minister's Office through the Home Ministry, the MCD had ignored all the requirements and issued the clearance certificate to the DDCA to hold the cricket match.

It contended that the structural stability certificate given by the DDCA to the MCD as part of the notice for completion under the Delhi Building Bye-laws was "bogus, false, illegal and ineffective and inconsequential" for grant of any occupancy certificate.

The occupancy certificate issued by the MCD was a "gross abuse of power" by the MCD ignoring the structural safety aspects.

As a result of such acts, the public at large who were ignorant about structural safety aspects would have to endure the consequences of any accident occurring at the site and nearly 30,000 spectators would risk their lives to watch the match.

The petitioner said so far no structural engineer of the MCD had carried out an inspection, leaving the job to an architect.

He said no activity of any kind or use of the building should be permitted till such time the construction was fully completed and the safety requirements were met.

The petitioner sought a direction to quash the occupancy certificate and permission granted by the MCD to the DDCA to conduct the cricket match and an interim stay against the match.

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