India-Lanka T-20 match at Ferozshah Kotla unlikely on Feb 12

A T20 match between India and Sri Lanka scheduled for February 12 is unlikely to held at Ferozshah Kotla stadium here with the Delhi High Court today refusing to direct South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) to issue provisional occupancy certificate to DDCA for it.
Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) thereafter withdrew its plea.
Declining the request made by the cricket body, a bench of Justices S Muralidhar and Vibhu Bakhru said that the court in its earlier order had "absolutely" made it clear that till the time the association gets all the requisite clearances it will not be allowed to hold further matches at the stadium.

On November 18, last year, the high court had paved the way for DDCA to hold a India-South Africa test match at the stadium by directing SDMC to issue a provisional occupancy certificate (POC).
The court while issuing the direction had also said that DDCA was to get all necessary clearances from Delhi Urban Arts Commission and Archaeological Survey of India, no objection certificate from Land and Development Office, and completion certificate from SDMC by March 31.
Delivering the order, the bench said, "It is very clear that we are not going to issue direction for POC. The time till March 31 doesn't mean that you will hold matches without requisite compliances. Since 2011 this is happening. Before every match you need this order. We will not review the order of November 18, 2015 (passed by another division bench)."

Sensing the mood of the court, advocate Sangram Pattnaik, appearing for DDCA, on instruction from a representative of the cricket body, wished to withdraw the application which was allowed by the court.

SDMC, through its counsel Gaurav Kanth, had earlier told the court that there was no provision under the law to issue a POC to DDCA.
DDCA in its application had also sought direction to the authorities concerned to grant it a no objection certificate to hold the match.
The court, however, said that DDCA should stop the practice of getting interim order once and for all.
The court told DDCA, "You satisfy the authorities

concerned. Get final occupancy certificate and hold matches. We will not direct SDMC to give you POC."
It also refused to entertain a prayer that DDCA be allowed to hold matches under the supervision of Justice(retd) Mukul Mudgal.
The bench noted that there are 60 deviations referred to by MCD which the cricket body should rectify.
"The question of granting of provisional occupancy certificate is ruled out. You (DDCA) will have to get your house in order," it said, adding, "We are not concerned with the match. We are only concerned with the safety" aspect of the stadium, it said.

Earlier, Justice Mudgal, who was appointed observer for the India-South Africa cricket test here last month, had referred to several deficiencies in the working of DDCA, including in its tendering system, record keeping, delay in payment of bills, allotment of corporate boxes and naming of pavilions and stands, finance, defunct sub-committees, ticketing, broadcasting, media and permissions.
In his report, Justice Mudgal had also said that the internal audit of DDCA in its last report had talked out shortcomings and financial irregularities, adding that it was a matter of concern that no tangible action appeared to have been taken to set them right.

The issue dates back to 2011 when DDCA filed a petition challenging a property tax assessment made by MCD regarding the stadium. The matter is still pending in the high court.
SDMC had earlier told the court that DDCA had got interim relief from the court 13 times in the past, despite not making any effort to obtain the requisite clearances.