Today, On 29th August, The Madras High Court ruled that the Formula 4 night street race in Chennai can proceed, provided an FIA certificate is obtained. Acting Chief Justice D. Krishnakumar and Justice P.B. Balaji mandated that the certificate must be secured by noon on Saturday. This order ensures that the event meets international safety standards before it takes place.
Chennai: The Madras High Court on Thursday approved the hosting of India’s first Formula 4 night street race, which will take place on a 3.7-km circuit laid out across four public roads around the Island Grounds in Chennai this Saturday and Sunday, contingent upon the issuance of a Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) homologation certificate.
The First Division Bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice D. Krishnakumar and Justice P.B. Balaji, ruled that the FIA certificate must be secured by noon on Saturday, as Advocate-General P.S. Raman explained that such certificates are typically issued by FIA officials only a few hours before the event begins.
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The judges emphasized that the race should not proceed if the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) and Racing Promotions Private Limited (RPPL), the licensed organizers for Formula 4 races, do not obtain the FIA certificate within the court-mandated timeframe.
The Bench instructed that a copy of the FIA certificate be emailed to senior counsel V. Raghavachari and advocate Sunny Sheen Akara, who represent BJP spokesperson A.N.R. Prasad, the petitioner in the public interest litigation seeking to prevent SDAT and RPPL from holding the race.
Acknowledging an affidavit from V. Baskaran, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic-East), regarding planned traffic diversions during the event, the judges directed the police to ensure smooth traffic flow on the alternate routes to avoid any inconvenience to motorists.
State Public Prosecutor Hasan Mohamed Jinnah informed the court that a robust police force, including three Deputy Commissioners, five Assistant Commissioners, 16 Inspectors, 35 Sub-Inspectors, and 86 constables, would be deployed in the inner perimeter of the event.
Additionally, a separate police team, consisting of three Deputy Commissioners, eight Assistant Commissioners, 37 Inspectors, 65 Sub-Inspectors, and 122 constables, will be stationed in the outer perimeter of the event. Arrangements have also been made to accommodate parking for 4,250 cars and 4,600 two-wheelers for the spectators.
Eighteen locations, including the University of Madras campus, Chennai Press Club Road, Omandurar Medical College Grounds, Kalaivanar Arangam, Chintadripet Corporation Ground, Kendriya Vidyalaya ground, and Rajarathinam Stadium, have been designated for vehicle parking.
The court also reviewed an affidavit from the Director of Medical Education and Research regarding access to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital and the Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital at Omandurar Government Estate, ordering that patients must not face any inconvenience.
The Bench, led by Acting Chief Justice, recalled that a previous order issued on February 19 this year by another Division Bench, headed by Justice R. Mahadevan (now a Supreme Court Judge), included specific directives concerning public safety and minimizing disturbances to patients in nearby hospitals during the F4 race.
The February 19 directive stated,
“The State government shall ensure that the street race is conducted with the highest degree of public safety, avoiding inconvenience to the public, particularly the in-patients at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Madras Medical College, and Omandurar Government Multi-speciality Hospital. This can be achieved by installing necessary noise control measures, such as sound silencing panels or acoustic sound panels, in the hospitals during the racing events.”
The Bench led by the ACJ ordered strict adherence to this directive for the upcoming race on Saturday and Sunday, warning that any violation would be taken seriously by the court. The interim orders issued after hearing from all advocates, including senior counsel P.R. Raman, representing RPPL.
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The judges decided to keep the main PIL petition pending, giving the State government, SDAT, and RPPL six weeks to submit their counter-affidavits.
Senior counsel V. Raghavachari argued that while the Hyderabad street racing circuit is listed among FIA-certified tracks on the organization’s website, the Chennai circuit is notably absent. He questioned how such extensive preparations could be made for the race without first obtaining the necessary certification, likening the situation to “booking a marriage hall before even finding a bride.”
Given that heavy, high-powered cars capable of reaching speeds of up to 240 km per hour would be racing on sections of Anna Salai, Flag Staff Road, Kamarajar Road, Swami Sivananda Salai, and crossing the historic Napier Bridge over the River Cooum, he emphasized the importance of FIA officials inspecting and certifying the track.