The Kerala High Court dismissed a PIL challenging the use of “Indian Premier League” by Board of Control for Cricket in India, ruling the plea lacked merit despite claims the private body used “Indian” without National Sports Federation recognition.
KERALA: The Kerala High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation that questioned the use of the name “Indian Premier League” by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), stating that the petition lacked merit.
The writ petition was filed by a 28-year-old individual claiming to be a social worker from Ernakulam district. He alleged that the BCCI, a private body, is unlawfully using the name without recognition as a National Sports Federation.
A Division Bench consisting of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V. M. stated,
“We find no merit in the substance of the said argument and hence we do not feel that it would be proper to keep this writ petition as a Public Interest Litigation.”
Advocate P.V. Rema represented the petitioner, while the Deputy Solicitor General represented the Central Government. The petitioner expressed concern over the unauthorized use of the name “Indian Premier League” by the BCCI, which is registered under the Tamil Nadu Registration of Societies Act, 1975, and is not recognized as a National Sports Federation by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Union of India. To support his claims, the petitioner introduced documents obtained from the official website of the Ministry, asserting that the BCCI does not hold the status of a National Sports Federation.
Additionally, the petition referenced The Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950, which prohibits private entities from using certain names and emblems without permission from the Central Government.
According to Section 3 of the Act,
“No person shall use any name or emblem specified in the Schedule, or any colorable imitation thereof, for trade, business, or profession without prior consent from the Central Government.”
The petitioner argued that the BCCI’s use of the name “Indian Premier League” without acquiring National Sports Federation status or specific authorization from the government violated Sections 2(a) and 3 of the Act. He further claimed that the tournament misleads the public into believing it has the endorsement of the Government of India. The petitioner contended that various cricket tournaments, including the IPL a franchise-based Twenty-20 cricket tournament organized by the BCCI should not be allowed to use this name.
The Court noted,
“The said tournament is continuing for several years and it is now stated that the petitioner recently realised that the IPL is not an official cricket tournament of the Country and as such the use of the name Indian Premier League is illegal as used by the Board of Control for Cricket.”
Nonetheless, the Court found no merit in the arguments presented. The bench determined that the claims made in the petition lacked substance and thus did not consider it suitable to treat the issue as a Public Interest Litigation.
Case Title: Ashique Karoth v. Union of India & Anr., [2026:KER:22346]
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