Delhi HC notice to DDCA over complimentary IPL tickets

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) and its 25 executive committee members on a plea by another member seeking directions to frame policy for disbursal of complimentary tickets for the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches.

The plea filed by N.C Bakshi, a retired Delhi University professor, asked the DDCA to give a true and fair account of disbursal of complimentary tickets for the IPL season 7 matches held in 2014 at the Feroze Shah Kotla Grounds as well as the mechanism followed.

Justice Rajiv Shakdher sought response from the DDCA and its 25 members and also asked the DDCA to file an affidavit indicating how it distributed the complimentary tickets.

The plea said that for the purpose of hosting IPL matches in Delhi every year, the DDCA enters into an agreement with GMR Sports Pvt. Ltd., the company which owns Delhi Daredevils team, to provide the ground and other facilities.

And as part of the consideration, GMR issues certain complimentary tickets to the DDCA worth several crores in addition to Rs.10 lakh for each match, it said.

However, there has been no policy of fair or equitable distribution of complimentary tickets, which are property of the DDCA, and are used by some influential members/ directors of the association for personal gain, the plea claimed.

Bakshi said he sent several representations and notices to the members concerning the affairs of the DDCA and its directors, but seldom has any concrete action been taken by them.

The petition said: "As part of the total consideration for the agreement which was drawn on various terms and conditions, GMR was to pay Rs.10 lakh to the DDCA per match as well as a total of 15 percent of each category of tickets to the DDCA for a specific purpose of distribution amongst members and 'other organisations'."

"Such tickets are used by the members for getting/sealing proxy votes or to serve other ulterior motives and interests, so as to stay in power and in a dictatorial manner control the game of cricket and fate of aspiring youth in Delhi/NCR," it added.

The IPL season 8 began on April 8. Five matches are scheduled to be played at Feroze Shah Kotla.

The plea also sought direction for the DDCA to frame a mechanism/policy/resolution for disbursal of complimentary tickets and maintain proper record thereof for the IPL season 8 matches to be held at Feroze Shah Kotla.