HC raps Maha govt for not recovering IPL security dues

The bombay high court today came down heavily on the Maharashtra government for its failure to recover dues of Rs 10 crore for police security cover provided during Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket matches played at the D Y Patil Stadium in 2010.

"It has been two years and the state government has not bothered to recover dues. The amount is huge according to us. May be the amount is small for the state government. Despite not getting the arrears the state government keeps providing security and other facilities religiously," a division bench of judges A M Khanwilkar and A P Bhangale said.

The bench was hearing a public interest litigation filed by Santosh Pachlag last year, seeking direction to the government to recover the dues immediately from the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

"They (BCCI) are commercial enterprises which are earning so much and paying so much to each player. They are not able to pay this amount (Rs 10 crore)," the court said.

When informed that the next season of IPL is supposed to start from April this year, Justice Khanwilkar said, "You (government) have enough time to recover the dues then. This issue needs to be examined at the highest level. What the government ought to have done by now the court is directing." The court has directed the secretary, Home department to decide the representation made by BCCI, urging the government to fix reasonable rates comparable to those charged by other states at the earliest.

The matter has been posted for hearing on March 26.

BCCI counsel Raju Subramanium informed the court that BCCI was not liable to pay the entire arrears as it had never requested police security during the matches. "The stadium where the match was held and the franchise owners had sought for security, they are not affiliated to BCCI. Hence they have to pay the dues," he said.

The bench then issued notice to the D Y Patil stadium management and the concerned franchise owner whose match was held at the stadium in 2010.